The 19th century was a time of great development, particularly in the field of knowledge and representation of disability in literature. Although physical disabilities receive the majority of attention, mental illness appears in many works even if not overtly stated or named. Despite the absence of clearly observed mental deficiency, several works feature characters who show some, or even many, signs of depression. Although this melancholy seems to limit sick characters—ostracizing them from normal society and labeling them as other people, as Rosemarie Garland-Thomson explains in Extraordinary bodies: figuring physical disability in American culture and literature—it on the contrary, allows these individuals, by allowing them to recognize and free themselves from the corruption of their respective societies. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay 19th century texts, Sheppard Lee, “Bartleby the Scrivener” and “Life in the Iron Mills” all feature this type of story as each has a character who shows signs of a mental illness similar to depression which leads them to lose their lives. Although these three texts bear such similarity, they differ in execution and descriptions of depression and demonstrate the development of understanding of mental deficiency throughout the 19th century, as described by GE Berrios in his work "Melancholy and depression during the 19th century: a conceptual history”. .” Beginning with Sheppard Lee, where the main character's disinterest in activity and life is attributed to laziness, in "Life in the Iron Works" depression is depicted as a real illness that consumes the mind and has harmful effects for each character – through their “handicap”. - recognizes the corruption and inevitability of their society, they make the decision to free themselves in the only way possible - by ending their lives, while critics such as Justine S. Murison in "Hypochondria and Racial Interiority in Sheppard by Robert Montgomery Bird. Lee" argue that these characters are so afflicted with mental illness that they cannot consciously make any decisions and have no control over themselves, the characters display clear cognitive control as suggested in "Prefer Not to: The Paradox of passive resistance in Herman Desmarais". Melville's. Since each sick character has control over his thoughts and actions, he is able to recognize the problems in his society and consciously choose to free himself from them, although each History shows the progression of this choice. Sheppard Lee, "Bartleby the Scrivener" and "Life in the Iron Mills" show the evolution of the representation of depression and the enabling nature of disability during the 19th century. 19th century, the term "depression" had not yet been coined; the word for such a condition, "melancholy", was used interchangeably with mania and did not recognize many aspects of the deficiency (Berrios 298). . Throughout the century, the word was coined and used in many medical journals, largely due to growing interest in the field of psychology. The recognition and understanding of depression as a real illness is clearly demonstrated by examining the depictions of the illness in each of the three aforementioned literary works. Initially, a state of disinterest was considered laziness, but these stories reveal how the publicbecame more aware of the symptoms of depression, as these were more clearly articulated over time between each story. Sheppard Lee, Bartleby, and Hugh Wolfe all exhibit elements of the deficiency, with the former exhibiting the fewest symptoms and the most vague and subtle depiction. Robert Montgomery Bird's Sheppard Lee opens with a detailed introduction to the narrator's life and behaviors. While the narrator, Sheppard Lee, attributes his disinterest in life to idleness, his behaviors suggest otherwise. Lee drops out of school, claiming that he "gave way to the natural indolence of my character" (Bird 10) – an action which suggests that the narrator finds no interest in school or the interest in it. go. He also details his experiences trying to find a hobby and things he could enjoy, which he fails to do as everything offers little to no enjoyment. This lack of enjoyment in activities as well as his indecision over a hobby are both signs that the narrator is a depressed individual. Lee also claims that he is slow and has "as little energy or mental activity as ever before in a Jerseyman" (11). As fatigue and loss of energy are symptoms of depression ("Depression: Do You Know the Symptoms?"), this aspect of Lee's personality also adds to the argument that he suffers from clinical depression. While the narrator presents these aspects of himself in a jovial and comical manner, the underlying tone seems to be one of self-doubt and a feeling of worthlessness – another symptom of depression (“Depression: Know- you the symptoms? Lee openly states his lack of ambition and talent, and wonders why his father would ever believe in him: "How did my father come to believe that I should make a figure in the world, I can't tell. design” (10). All of these aspects of the narrator's personality strongly suggest that he is suffering from depression. However, due to the book's publication in the early 19th century, the term had not yet been coined and disability was not yet fully considered. Therefore, Bird's novel simply alludes to the illness by presenting it as a character flaw rather than a mental illness. By the time of Herman Melville's "Bartleby the Scrivener," the term depression had begun to be used in medical discourse and was beginning to be used. be studied. In this Wall Street story, the main character exhibits many of the telltale symptoms of depression in a much clearer way than Bird's story. Although Melville's story does not provide the inner workings of Bartleby's mind as Sheppard Lee does, the details about Bartleby's behaviors offer sufficient evidence of Bartleby's mental illness. First, Bartleby displays a sharp decline in interest in his work, beginning with an intense work ethic when he begins working for the narrator: “At first, Bartleby wrote an extraordinary amount. As if he had long been hungry for something to copy, he seemed to gorge himself on my documents. There was no break for digestion" (6), however, Bartleby gradually stops his work, an action which reveals one of the defining symptoms of depression: the loss of interest in things that he we did or enjoyed. As Bartleby's interest and desire to work wanes throughout the story, other symptoms appear and increase in power. Bartleby's appetite also drops as his depression worsens throughout the story - another indicator of depression ("Depression: Do You Know the Symptoms?"). The main character begins byeat only a few nuts of ginger a day, then gradually stop eating it altogether. The character also becomes more indecisive as time passes and his mental disability seems to worsen. While quickly arriving at uttering his repetitive phrase "I would rather not" (8), a phrase that contains no commands or direct statements, Bartleby later becomes. more doubtful about his own decisions and desires when the narrator tries to convince him to leave the building. After each of his statements, Bartleby follows them up with “But I am not particular” (26) as he experiences another symptom of depression. — indecision (“Depression: do you know the symptoms?”). As the story progresses, Bartleby reveals several other telltale characteristics of depression, such as excessive sleeping and social withdrawal. All of these characteristics strongly suggest that Bartleby is a man suffering from depression. Although Melville's story provides a much clearer depiction of depression than Bird's, neither fully discusses the despair and mental effects of impairment. It was not until the late 19th century that literature began to discuss these aspects of depression. Rebecca Harding Davis' short story "Life in the Iron Works" presents an even clearer picture of depression in her character Hugh Wolfe. After being arrested for theft, Wolfe falls into deep despair and despondency. He looks at himself “with sudden hatred” (28) and cries bitterly. As self-loathing is a sign of depression, this marks the beginning of Wolfe's journey into mental illness. Even early in the story, Wolfe's lack of appetite suggests that mental deficiency may have affected him before his incarceration. Wolfe also suffers from headaches: “He put his hand on his head, looking perplexed and weary. It made his head hurt” (32), which WebMD classifies as another symptom of depression. Wolfe's despair quickly leads to suicidal thoughts, and ultimately suicide. “He uncovered his arms, looking carefully at their veins and tendons…a slight click, often repeated” (34). These suicidal thoughts, and this final act, solidify the claim that Hugh Wolfe is suffering from depression because he has given up on life and sees no other possible way out of his situation. Due to these characters' mental disabilities, some critics argue that these characters do not. have control of their thoughts and actions and are completely consumed by mental illness. Murison's hypochondria and racial interiority in Robert Montgomery's Sheppard Lee Bird argues that due to potential mental illness, Sheppard Lee has no control over his decisions and that the illness itself controls every action and thought (Murison). Although this argument may have some validity if one simply considers the body it inhabits, the assertion that a mental illness presides entirely over the mind of the impaired individual is both incorrect and biased. Even though Sheppard Lee and his fellow depressed literary characters may struggle with thoughts that are not their own, they still have complete control of their free will and actions, as Desmarais argues in "Prefer Not: The Paradox of passive resistance in Herman Melville. Desmarais refutes Murison's assertion. assert through an in-depth explanation of how Bartleby has complete control over his words, actions and mind, so much so that he exists in "passive resistance" to society and its boundaries (Desmarais through the phrase “I would prefer”). "Don't" Bartleby conveys a carefully hidden message that suggestsa subtle refusal to do what he does not find interesting or valuable. If Bartleby can overcome all the "psychological limitations" (Desmarais) that are erected in his mind due to his mental disability, then. Sheppard Lee too. Rather than being consumed by their deficiencies, they are capable of it and able to see what normal people in society cannot, however, this places them at a social disadvantage. Although each of these characters have different levels of depression. and their symptoms, they are all ostracized by their respective societies. Not only do they suffer from mental breakdown, but the characters recognize the flaws in their society, thus setting them apart from the ignorant norm. Through illness, which forces one to view things pessimistically and determine the value of specific activities, Wolfe, Lee, and Bartleby are able to see the corruption, immorality, and injustice that surround them. These extraordinary spirits are then recognized as different, even grotesque, because they exist outside of the "normate" spoken of in Garland-Thomson's work, Extraordinary bodies: figuring physical disability in American culture and Literature. As these three characters are no longer ignorant of the relationships in their societies and possess negative views towards "the social figure through which people can present themselves as definitive human beings" (Garland-Thomson 8) and the aspects of life that they “normalize”. people love and pursue, they are indeed ranked among the rest. Sheppard Lee sees the flaws in every activity he attempts, but his rejection of these activities causes those who do not see these problems to become angry with him. Likewise, once Bartleby prefers not to work, he is immediately rejected by his employer and co-workers and further excluded from social interaction. Even Hugh Wolfe, who takes money to allow himself to advance in the world after recognizing that only money will save him from poverty, is arrested and sentenced to extreme punishment. All of these experiences only reinforce each character's recognition of societal problems and lead them to decide whether or not to continue in the world. As each character realizes the terrible nature of society, they all make a conscious decision to break free. limits of their lives and their status, thus gaining power over their lives. Sheppard Lee sees the flaws in the mundane activities of his peers. With hunting, only he recognizes the costly and dangerous nature of this sport. When he tries horse racing, he sees that it is nothing more than a glorified game that he finds "both disreputable and demoralizing" (Bird 13). Even when Lee succeeds in politics, he quickly sees the deceit and corruption behind the eloquent words of these charming men and chooses to leave, "sincerely repenting of the delusion which has made me so long the advocate of evil and deception” (27). Once Lee abandons his pursuit of pleasure, his final stop – while being himself – is an experience that frees him from the expectations and evils of society. Although he is not particularly faced with death, by jumping into his body, Sheppard Lee loses himself and the limitations of his own life, freeing himself from corruption and deception, if only for a moment. short period. While Lee makes the blatant decision to become another person, Bartleby makes a more subtle decision: to simply waste away. Bartleby refuses all help and food, passively choosing death by starvation. Although it may seem that Bartleby did not make a conscious choice, he did not opt ​​for this form of freedom until he was rejected by society at large and he. 2017.