Character Analysis: Silver Linings Playbook

In the movie Silver Linings Playbook, Bradley Cooper takes on the role of Patrick Solatano, a young man who is released from the mental hospital after undergoing an 8-month treatment for bipolar disorder. Pat is originally institutionalized after beating up the man he discovered having an affair with his wife Nikki. After being released into the custody of his mother Dolores Solatano, and father Patrick Sr. Solatano, Pat decides to work on his own well being in order to win back Nikki. Though it seems that Pat is participating in healthy habits such therapy sessions, working out, reading, and finding life’s silver linings, Pat refuses to take his medication because of the dull side effects. It isn’t until Pat has a manic episode in the middle of the night, which results in him throwing a book out a window and waking up the entire …show more content…
If someone is suffering from manic episodes they might have symptoms such a high energy, impaired judgment, being unable to sleep, or feeling euphoric. If someone is suffering from a depressive episode they might have symptoms such as low energy and motivation, irritability, suicide, and a sense of hopelessness. Behaviors that are prone to this disorder include acting impulsive, reckless, aggressive, and extended periods of being either really happy or really sad. In the movie, Pat displays behavioral characteristic of bipolar disorder when he has manic episode upon realizing he has lost his wedding video. Pat breaks into an outburst, accidentally strikes his mother in the face, and begins shouting at the top of his lungs in the middle of the night as he tears through closets impulsively looking for the missing tape. Pat’s mood swings are brought on by stressful situations or triggers (such as his wedding song) that cause him to suffer emotional outburst or