A child in the family having a mental illness like schizophrenia, “ that affects the way a person acts, thinks, and sees the world”, is problematic (“Schizophrenia” 1) . This is the case with a few people, and they may see or hear things that don't exist. In some cases it turns out that these activities happen in daily life as well as in literature. Jacob from Anthony Horowitz’s short story, “The Hitchhiker”, seems like any other ordinary kid. But just a few paragraphs into the story and it becomes evident that he is not normal, the author forces the reader to go through the feeling of this mental illness, that tricks his mind into seeing things that don't exist, and also the disorder that gives him horrible delusions of persecution.
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This is confirmed by noticing what Jacob claims to be hearing from the hitchhiker. While the two of them are in the back, Jacob repeatedly hears the hitchhiker say, “ You’re dead” and “ I’m going to kill you” ( Horowitz 231, 232, 233). Here it is quite evident that Jacob overhears the hitchhiker talking about death and murder, mainly because, previously, Jacob thought he saw a knife in the hitchhikers pocket. Just like before, it is only an illusion in Jacobs brain, but because he has schizophrenia, he cannot control his thoughts. That's why he hears the voices. As the story progresses and Jacob is returned to his mental hospital, he was told, that those phrases were only thoughts in his brain. This little trick, gives Jacob the delusion of persecution. This is also confirmed in the article “Schizophrenia” where scientists say, people with schizophrenia “ hear things that don't exist”, and also they explained to the reader that a person who has schizophrenia , “ believe that others are out to get them” ( “Schizophrenia 1 ). In the story, Jacob felt like the hitchhiker was out to get him. These experts who have a PhD in the field confirm yet again, that receiving delusions of persecution is a sign and symptom of schizophrenia.
To reiterate, throughout the short story, “ The Hitchhiker”, Jacob suffers from a brain disorder named schizophrenia and this causes him to
To …show more content…
This is confirmed by noticing what Jacob claims to be hearing from the hitchhiker. While the two of them are in the back, Jacob repeatedly hears the hitchhiker say, “ You’re dead” and “ I’m going to kill you” ( Horowitz 231, 232, 233). Here it is quite evident that Jacob overhears the hitchhiker talking about death and murder, mainly because, previously, Jacob thought he saw a knife in the hitchhikers pocket. Just like before, it is only an illusion in Jacobs brain, but because he has schizophrenia, he cannot control his thoughts. That's why he hears the voices. As the story progresses and Jacob is returned to his mental hospital, he was told, that those phrases were only thoughts in his brain. This little trick, gives Jacob the delusion of persecution. This is also confirmed in the article “Schizophrenia” where scientists say, people with schizophrenia “ hear things that don't exist”, and also they explained to the reader that a person who has schizophrenia , “ believe that others are out to get them” ( “Schizophrenia 1 ). In the story, Jacob felt like the hitchhiker was out to get him. These experts who have a PhD in the field confirm yet again, that receiving delusions of persecution is a sign and symptom of schizophrenia.
To reiterate, throughout the short story, “ The Hitchhiker”, Jacob suffers from a brain disorder named schizophrenia and this causes him to