The Theme Of Alienation, Anxiety And Depression

For the purpose of this essay, I have chosen to write about the theme revolving around alienation, anxiety, and panic. I would like to extend the theme of alienation and anxiety to include depression as that is a theme commonly found among some of these works. While discussing these themes, I will reference to two texts from the course text book. The first text is “Girl” written by Jamaica Kincaid. The second text used for reference will be “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” written by Ernest Hemingway. Alienation is the feeling of isolation from others. However this feeling is commonly felt by people who are surrounded by plenty of other people. It is common for a person to feel alienation, even while surrounded by plenty of others, if they are made to feel different, bad, or wrong in some way. Often a person’s feelings may be misunderstood, or misinterpreted, and this can also cause feelings of isolation. A reader can find many examples of alienation, anxiety and depression in the text

Alienation, anxiety, panic and depression are all common to humans, and yet are often poorly understood, poorly related to, and poorly sympathized for. In reference one last time to Hemmingway’s short story, it is clear that the characters could easily be the same man at different stages in life, and different stages of anxiety over one’s life. A young waiter, healthy and confident with a family life waiting at home. Next, an older waiter, who has nothing waiting at home for him, and suffers alienation and anxiety. Lastly, an old man whose alienation has turned to panic and depression, and thus suicide. This gradual decline is common among our society, and often the young healthy characters portray our hope and dreams, while the older characters convey lost hope, the despair of loneliness and the inevitably of the aging