Andrew Solomon, author of "The Noonday Demon", makes incredible use of many rhetorical devices that do an excellent job of illustrating his argument and making it persuasive to the reader. Through the use of analogy, metaphor, simile, paradox, imagery, repetition, and pathos, the author shares his own personal struggle with depression and describes the depth in the nature of this affliction and the different steps to recovery. The most persuasive techniques for me were the metaphor of depression as a tree with a overpowering vine, and the pathos behind the story of the people in Cambodia. When explaining what the experience of major depression is, the author talks about a time when he came across a large oak tree from his childhood. The tree had been completely overtaken by a parasitic vine that stole nutrients and life from the tree. The author reflects, "I empathized with that tree. My depression had grown on me as that vine had conquered the oak; it had been a sucking thing that had wrapped itself around me, ugly and more alive than I...bit by bit asphyxiated all of my life out of me" (5). This helps the reader visualize and understand the intensity and seriousness of the author's struggle with depression. Another statement that the author made that I felt was very powerful was about his trip to Cambodia. "I went to Cambodia to be humbled by the pain of others, and I was humbled down to the ground" (Solomon, 24). The Cambodian woman Phaly Nuon's story about the horrors she experienced during the war, and how she helped many other woman overcome and manage their depression was incredibly moving and a great example of pathos.
I completely agree with Nesa, the two parts of "The Noonday Demon" that stood out to me the most were the rhetorical devices (metaphors, similes, descriptions and imagery) and Andrew Solomon's trip to Cambodia. I thought it was really interesting how Solomon compared mild depression to major depression; "Mild depression is a gradual and sometimes permanent thing that undermines people the way rust weakens iron...then major depression is the startling collapse of a whole structure" (Solomon, 2-3). I think this metaphor puts a great image in people's heads on the difference of mild and major depression. Solomon states that "depression is a condition that is almost unimaginable to anyone who has not known it," but I think his use of rhetorical devices really helps the reader be able to picture what the person suffering from depression is going through (Solomon 18). Lastly, I thought Solomon's descriptions of the stories Phaly Nuon told him were utterly eye-opening and unimaginable. The things that the people of Cambodia were tortured through are simply unimaginable and it pained me to read about these atrocities. Through all the devastation in the story, Phaly rose up as an incredible person who suffered so much but still had the integrity to help her community overcome depression by teaching them how to forget, how to work, and how to love.
I really enjoyed reading the "Manufacturing Depression" excerpt. I really liked reading through his experience like it was a story with many good details. He used analogies and similes to help the reader relate to his experience and understand what he felt like and went through while being part of a research medical study for depression. I thought that his explanation of the entire process was very detailed and descriptive, it kept me wanting to read more and I could also relate myself to certain mental questions he was stuck asking himself. It made me realize how we can be talked into believing that we have certain psychological disorders such as depression. In the end, I thought the most interesting part was the he had shown progress even though he was simply taking placebo pills filled with sugar. This is a great example of a professional going into an experience blindly and even then still falling into the mental confusion of what we truly feel and what we should be labeled as. I really thought i could relate because I have talked myself into feeling certain ways before that had never even dawned on me until I learned or heard about the illnesses, then I wondered if it related to me or not!
After reading the Andrew Soloman's chapter, "Depression," I've learned the true power of pathos.
The most common audience of this book is probably the "depressed." By using personal anecdotes as well as those of others, he creates a powerful emotional connection between the reader and the topic of this chapter. He makes a very keen effort to make "depression" not a disorder but a commonality, something everyone experiences. Of course he explains how there are varying degrees of depression but that the experience in itself is know to all. This allows the reader to feel like a part of some cohesive group of "depressed individuals."
One of his arguments is that depression isn't something that has to be completely eliminated from one's life. This cohesion that he creates through pathos is key when gearing the readers towards his understanding of what depression is. Because the readers no longer feel like outcasts, they are more willing to accept this idea that being depressed is something one can live with.
Ultimately, he places control in the hands of those who feel weakened by their so-called "disorder," something that has been labeled by the majority of society, through the use of pathos.
In Gary Greenberg's article, "Manufacturing Depression" he argues how "medicine is infused with the miracles of science" so he wanted to see how is done(Greenberg 36). He writes about his own experience with depression as he applies commonsense and a writer’s curiosity to what psychiatrists and others in the mental health industry are presenting as ‘truth.’ Our society today believes into pursuing their own happiness and that people believe they have a ‘right’ to be happy and that if they're not, something is wrong. Reading Greengergs article I noticed the the four pictures he applied in his essay. I wonder why did he use these pictures for? Even though his essay was well written I like how there was pictures but I want to understand the meaning for them.
I personally believe depression is over diagnosed and we use far too many pharmaceuticals to "treat" depression. We all experience "sadness" and times of "demotivation" which seems to highlight depression as a common occurrence. If these doctors are prescribing such drugs in the same sentiment as the doctor in Greenberg's story, due to their nature as "unfailingly kind, " doing their work not as a "shill for the drug companies" but out of a desire to "help" (39) I have not been convinced. In reading Greenberg's personal account i am reminded of many interactions with physicians who failed to read between the lines while i was under their professional supervision, wanting a specific prescription. The prescription I wanted had been labeled dangerous by lawyers, but was still in wide use. My doctor followed the required tests (kinda) and jumped ahead of several restrictions to give me a script. It wasn't at a "script shop" where doctors overprescribe dangerous drugs to anyone who comes in, it was at a well-repsected healthcare provider, but I still got the same sentiment as Greenberg. My doctor seemed to be interested in helping me, but was more willing to flex his status as a really smart dude and prove "better living through chemistry" is possible. The drugs I took worked for the intended purposes, but because the carefully controlled method for prescribing the drugs was ignored I became more cynical of our doctors and healthcare system.
Solomon uses a handful of metaphors and analogies that help strengthen his piece. For example, he uses the metaphor of a vine taking over an oak tree; the vines represent the depression that takes over his own body. He says, “My depression had grown on me as the vine had conquered the oak” (5). He then goes on to explain how it wraps itself around him, more alive than he himself. This vine—this depression—has a life of its own. The use of the vine and tree as a metaphor for major depression was a critical part of Solomon’s rhetorical strategy. This chapter may have been, in a large part, composed of Solomon’s own opinions and experiences; however, he strengthens his argument by bringing in quotes from certain authoritative figures. Solomon is not himself a scientist or psychologist; his opinions, although emotionally appealing, lack something substantial. However, by bringing in these credible sources, he indirectly proves his own opinion and in turn strengthens his argument in the eyes of the reader.
In reading Andrew Solomon's, "The Noonday Demon", I was very impressed by his writing and thought it was a very interesting read. He uses many rhetorical devices to portray to the reader the mood disorder, depression. Using analogies, metaphors, and imagery as well as others he explains the different parts, symptoms, and effects of depression and the people who have it.so many of the feelings that people with depression endure I was unaware of like how he says "Every second of being alive hurt me(6)" and that "You cannot gain pleasure form anything(6)". Feelings like this that I had no idea that people with depression even went through that are so extreme and severe Solomon describes in a very raw and truthful way. He compares depression to other diseases like diabetes and how depression is not the immediate fix of one thing or a low level of anything in the body. The two different types of depression, dimensional and categorical were also very interesting to me and something I did not know. One of a continuum of sadness and the other like a virus both become a "consequence of decay". This chapter explain to me in a very truthful way about depression and I found Solomon's writing to be very effective.
Andrew Solomon, author of "The Noonday Demon", makes incredible use of many rhetorical devices that do an excellent job of illustrating his argument and making it persuasive to the reader. Through the use of analogy, metaphor, simile, paradox, imagery, repetition, and pathos, the author shares his own personal struggle with depression and describes the depth in the nature of this affliction and the different steps to recovery. The most persuasive techniques for me were the metaphor of depression as a tree with a overpowering vine, and the pathos behind the story of the people in Cambodia. When explaining what the experience of major depression is, the author talks about a time when he came across a large oak tree from his childhood. The tree had been completely overtaken by a parasitic vine that stole nutrients and life from the tree. The author reflects, "I empathized with that tree. My depression had grown on me as that vine had conquered the oak; it had been a sucking thing that had wrapped itself around me, ugly and more alive than I...bit by bit asphyxiated all of my life out of me" (5). This helps the reader visualize and understand the intensity and seriousness of the author's struggle with depression. Another statement that the author made that I felt was very powerful was about his trip to Cambodia. "I went to Cambodia to be humbled by the pain of others, and I was humbled down to the ground" (Solomon, 24). The Cambodian woman Phaly Nuon's story about the horrors she experienced during the war, and how she helped many other woman overcome and manage their depression was incredibly moving and a great example of pathos.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Nesa, the two parts of "The Noonday Demon" that stood out to me the most were the rhetorical devices (metaphors, similes, descriptions and imagery) and Andrew Solomon's trip to Cambodia. I thought it was really interesting how Solomon compared mild depression to major depression; "Mild depression is a gradual and sometimes permanent thing that undermines people the way rust weakens iron...then major depression is the startling collapse of a whole structure" (Solomon, 2-3). I think this metaphor puts a great image in people's heads on the difference of mild and major depression. Solomon states that "depression is a condition that is almost unimaginable to anyone who has not known it," but I think his use of rhetorical devices really helps the reader be able to picture what the person suffering from depression is going through (Solomon 18). Lastly, I thought Solomon's descriptions of the stories Phaly Nuon told him were utterly eye-opening and unimaginable. The things that the people of Cambodia were tortured through are simply unimaginable and it pained me to read about these atrocities. Through all the devastation in the story, Phaly rose up as an incredible person who suffered so much but still had the integrity to help her community overcome depression by teaching them how to forget, how to work, and how to love.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading the "Manufacturing Depression" excerpt. I really liked reading through his experience like it was a story with many good details. He used analogies and similes to help the reader relate to his experience and understand what he felt like and went through while being part of a research medical study for depression. I thought that his explanation of the entire process was very detailed and descriptive, it kept me wanting to read more and I could also relate myself to certain mental questions he was stuck asking himself. It made me realize how we can be talked into believing that we have certain psychological disorders such as depression. In the end, I thought the most interesting part was the he had shown progress even though he was simply taking placebo pills filled with sugar. This is a great example of a professional going into an experience blindly and even then still falling into the mental confusion of what we truly feel and what we should be labeled as. I really thought i could relate because I have talked myself into feeling certain ways before that had never even dawned on me until I learned or heard about the illnesses, then I wondered if it related to me or not!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the Andrew Soloman's chapter, "Depression," I've learned the true power of pathos.
ReplyDeleteThe most common audience of this book is probably the "depressed." By using personal anecdotes as well as those of others, he creates a powerful emotional connection between the reader and the topic of this chapter. He makes a very keen effort to make "depression" not a disorder but a commonality, something everyone experiences. Of course he explains how there are varying degrees of depression but that the experience in itself is know to all. This allows the reader to feel like a part of some cohesive group of "depressed individuals."
One of his arguments is that depression isn't something that has to be completely eliminated from one's life. This cohesion that he creates through pathos is key when gearing the readers towards his understanding of what depression is. Because the readers no longer feel like outcasts, they are more willing to accept this idea that being depressed is something one can live with.
Ultimately, he places control in the hands of those who feel weakened by their so-called "disorder," something that has been labeled by the majority of society, through the use of pathos.
In Gary Greenberg's article, "Manufacturing Depression" he argues how "medicine is infused with the miracles of science" so he wanted to see how is done(Greenberg 36). He writes about his own experience with depression as he applies commonsense and a writer’s curiosity to what psychiatrists and others in the mental health industry are presenting as ‘truth.’ Our society today believes into pursuing their own happiness and that people believe they have a ‘right’ to be happy and that if they're not, something is wrong. Reading Greengergs article I noticed the the four pictures he applied in his essay. I wonder why did he use these pictures for? Even though his essay was well written I like how there was pictures but I want to understand the meaning for them.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe depression is over diagnosed and we use far too many pharmaceuticals to "treat" depression. We all experience "sadness" and times of "demotivation" which seems to highlight depression as a common occurrence. If these doctors are prescribing such drugs in the same sentiment as the doctor in Greenberg's story, due to their nature as "unfailingly kind, " doing their work not as a "shill for the drug companies" but out of a desire to "help" (39) I have not been convinced. In reading Greenberg's personal account i am reminded of many interactions with physicians who failed to read between the lines while i was under their professional supervision, wanting a specific prescription. The prescription I wanted had been labeled dangerous by lawyers, but was still in wide use. My doctor followed the required tests (kinda) and jumped ahead of several restrictions to give me a script. It wasn't at a "script shop" where doctors overprescribe dangerous drugs to anyone who comes in, it was at a well-repsected healthcare provider, but I still got the same sentiment as Greenberg. My doctor seemed to be interested in helping me, but was more willing to flex his status as a really smart dude and prove "better living through chemistry" is possible. The drugs I took worked for the intended purposes, but because the carefully controlled method for prescribing the drugs was ignored I became more cynical of our doctors and healthcare system.
ReplyDeleteSolomon uses a handful of metaphors and analogies that help strengthen his piece. For example, he uses the metaphor of a vine taking over an oak tree; the vines represent the depression that takes over his own body. He says, “My depression had grown on me as the vine had conquered the oak” (5). He then goes on to explain how it wraps itself around him, more alive than he himself. This vine—this depression—has a life of its own. The use of the vine and tree as a metaphor for major depression was a critical part of Solomon’s rhetorical strategy. This chapter may have been, in a large part, composed of Solomon’s own opinions and experiences; however, he strengthens his argument by bringing in quotes from certain authoritative figures. Solomon is not himself a scientist or psychologist; his opinions, although emotionally appealing, lack something substantial. However, by bringing in these credible sources, he indirectly proves his own opinion and in turn strengthens his argument in the eyes of the reader.
ReplyDeleteIn reading Andrew Solomon's, "The Noonday Demon", I was very impressed by his writing and thought it was a very interesting read. He uses many rhetorical devices to portray to the reader the mood disorder, depression. Using analogies, metaphors, and imagery as well as others he explains the different parts, symptoms, and effects of depression and the people who have it.so many of the feelings that people with depression endure I was unaware of like how he says "Every second of being alive hurt me(6)" and that "You cannot gain pleasure form anything(6)". Feelings like this that I had no idea that people with depression even went through that are so extreme and severe Solomon describes in a very raw and truthful way. He compares depression to other diseases like diabetes and how depression is not the immediate fix of one thing or a low level of anything in the body. The two different types of depression, dimensional and categorical were also very interesting to me and something I did not know. One of a continuum of sadness and the other like a virus both become a "consequence of decay". This chapter explain to me in a very truthful way about depression and I found Solomon's writing to be very effective.
ReplyDelete