Physical Illness vs. Mental Illness

While reading Mrs. Dalloway, one of the main characters has a serious mental illness. Septimus, after serving in World War I, suffers from shell shock, which is known today as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In his time, mental illness was very secretive and shameful. Most patients who struggled with mental disorders were all lumped together and classified as crazy. Many times people with simple to fix problems would be sent away to an asylum when it could have been treated. This was the case with Septimus; if he had counseling and therapy, he could have nearly recovered or learned to cope with his emotional scars from the war. Instead he was sent to a special hospital and locked away. He later killed himself, which could have definitely been prevented.

In today's society, it has become much more acceptable to diagnose and treat mental illnesses than ever before. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are some of the most common disorders in numerous Americans today. While the views and stigma have definitely become less of problem, some people still don't see mental illnesses as legitimate as physical illnesses or injuries. These mental problems can often be seen as weaknesses in the character or ability of the sufferers. It is also easier for others to think someone is faking a mental illnesses since it cannot always be seen or proven. Many times in the case of depression, people are told to just get over it or stop being sad. Even though it is not usually outwardly apparent, those who suffer from mental disorders still need treatment and should be considered seriously.

Abuse vs. Discipline

In the book we read this week, Great Expectations, Pip is a very disciplined child. While his sister was harsh and could have been more nurturing, I think his situation was far from abuse. This is an issue that affects parents still today. At what point does physical discipline become abuse? In my opinion that is simple. When the parent no longer has an intent of discipline but of anger or even pleasure, it is abuse. Swatting a child on the hand or spanking your child is not abuse. More and more parents are being punished for using this technique, but it has been proven that it does not negatively affect a child's growth physically or emotionally. I think as long as the intentions are correct, parents should have free reign on how they would like to discipline their children. In my opinion, a small swat or spank can be just what a child needs to understand the seriousness of their misbehavior.

Duke vs. Duke

While reading the poem "My Last Duchess," I couldn't help but think about the movie Moulin Rouge. In the movie, the Duke comes to purchase/invest in the cabaret and expects to receive the star, Satine, as well. Both Duke are privileged and arrogant. They expect to get anything they desire, simply because they have the power and money. In both cases, women are treated like property and their opinions and desires are completely disregarded. When I read "My Last Duchess," I had the same feelings toward the Duke as I did in the movie. They are both dispicable and disgusting. They both put their own desires above everyone else's wellbeing. They are both coincidentally named the Duke.
The word duke is defined as a male holding the highest hereditary title in Britain. Like the aristocracy in their times, these dukes were born into entitlement and persecution of others. Both of these examples show how corrupt and self-important these people were. While both characters are detestable, they are perfect symbols of the aristocracy.

Creator vs. Created

As a creator, do we have complete control over what we have created? Are we ultimately responsible for how our creation turned out?
The questions can apply to nearly anything. If you are a scientist that creates a vaccine that eventually turns people into zombies, are you responsible for the end of human race? Or is it out of your hands because you could not possibly know what was going to happen? If you are a parent that raises a child that turns into a serial killer, are you responsible for the deaths of innocent lives?
There are no specific or correct answers to the questions. Each person probably has a different view on what is right or wrong in these situations. Who do you blame? Or do you blame anyone at all?
In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the question of creator vs. created is a huge theme. Who's fault is it that the monster turned evil? Should Frankenstein be blamed for his lack of action to stop the creature?
In my opinion, Frankenstein should have cared for the creature he made. Imagine being completely rejected by the only person that would ever want you... your creator. What if when we were born, our parents disowned us and left us to fend for ourselves? Every time we went outside, people were horrified. Obviously your life would be miserable and you would have so much hate and anger. If Frankenstein had gone after the monster and cared for him, or even stopped him from going loose, no one would have been killed. He should have taken responsibility in the beginning, so he didn't have to take responsibility for the horrific deeds later on.

History vs. Literature

While reading this week's passages, I have realized that literature, poetry, and art can help us relate to people in the past so much more than just what we learn in our history classes. Through these forms, we can understand what these people living years before us felt. We can know that no matter the time, people always feel many emotions, ranging from loneliness to heartbreak to curiosity. Writing is an outlet that is timeless. No matter the time, place, person, or situation, everything can be expressed simply by putting words together. Letters and words and sentences can make you feel worlds closer to someone that you will never meet.
Because of these writings, and the honesty of their authors, we can know that no matter what situations we are in, someone has gone through that too. They felt the same emotions you did, whether it was pure bliss or utter devastation. History lessons could never convey these things. Dates and historical figures teach us nothing about the true lives of people that lived before us. Diaries, poems, articles, and letters let us see more into the past than monuments or presidential portraits.
As a student, I know the lack of appreciation towards literature, but in all reality, it gives us so much more than we could expect if we simply take the time to read, understand, and relate.

Religion vs. Freedom

This week one of our required readings was "The Garden of Love" by William Blake. In this poem, Blake is describing a church scene that he has come across. This church is built on land where children used to roam free and play happily. The doors to the church were shut and above them was the phrase "Thou shalt not." He noticed that where there should be flowers, there were graves, and his joys and desires were "binding with briars."

This poem is a great piece about the church and how cold and legalistic the church can be. Many people feel this way even today and that is not how the church was meant to be, both to those inside and to outsiders looking in. God did not intend for the church to exclude or push away people, but to invite all to dine at the Lord's supper. God did not intend for the church to be constitutionalized and made into one long list of rules, but to be a community of people supporting one another in their walk of faith. God did not intend for anyone to give up freedom to follow Him, but to find freedom through living in Him.

Blake's writing is a timeless idea. The church has never understood God's true desires because they didn't desire Him with surrendered hearts. The more the church aligns itself with God's heart and way of life, the less that people like William Blake will feel uninvited and unloved by the church.