The True Meaning Of Madness - 2862 Words

Adrian Olivas Mrs. Loeb AP Literature September 22, 2014 The True Meaning of Madness 1. Madness is a tool and when used correctly one can escape one’s true reality. Authors use madness to explain eccentric behavior in characters and the reason madness occurs is due to society’s expectations. People are not forced to follow society’s expectations but, if one choses to break away and be themselves, society will look at them with a scornful eye. Social standards bind women and don’t allow them from reaching their potential. Madness is a way to gain self-acceptance without having to deal with societies judgments. Authors have written books in which protagonist are lost and unable to find the meaning of life due to these expectations, if it weren’t for madness these characters would have never have learned to accept themselves for who they really are. 2. Silvia Plath writer of The Bell Jar never understood society’s expectations both in her books and in real life. Esther Greenwood the protagonist in The Bell Jar lives her life with discontent, and even when she should be having fun is she really just contemplating on what she is doing. It is Esther s self-critical attitude that differentiates her from her friends which seem content with what they have achieved. None of the other characters ever seem to have a worry in the world and when they do they sweep it under the rug as if it were nothing. They re self-absorbed in their own way, preoccupied with conqueringShow MoreRelatedEssay on Hamlets Antic Disposition1487 Words   |  6 Pagesof his character traits. Yet on Hamlets antic disposition, meaning his obviously absurd temperament or madness, Shakespeare leaves plenty of reason to believe that it is feigned, meaning that it is simply a ploy to help Hamlet carry out his plans for revenge. It is feigned, meaning tha t it is faked, merely put on as a faà §ade. This is denoted in various aspects of his antic disposition. 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