Thursday, January 17, 2008

In Praise of Melancholy - Eric G. Wilson

This essay is wonderful.

Thanks Pam for sharing it with me.

2 comments:

  1. A well written essay.

    I have to say the author has the greatest mind of the 19th Century!

    Depression is now classified as disease. It is more than even a chemical imbalance, it destroys matter in the brain.

    To paraphrase Doctor Peter Kramer in his book Against Depression (From which I imagine Mr. Wilson has morphed his title):

    If John Keats had suffered from Rhuemitism for all those years, I can hardly imagine Mr. Wilson bemoaning the fact that researchers soon may eradicate arthritis.

    His cursory, glancing and condescending admission that he understands that depression and melancholy are different almost takes the cake.

    He is twisted: Oh of course there is real depression, those basket cases need medication.

    Ick.

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  2. Herm. Hadn't thought about it in that context, Art.

    Certainly, clinical depression is a very real thing. Certainly wouldn't want to make light of that.

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