Living in a populated area like New York, it is rather difficult not know someone or hear about someone who is living in what most call a “dysfunctional,” meaning any impairment of function according to the Oxford English Dictionary, home, whether it be with a “dysfunctional” parent, sibling, or significant other. For those of us who have not grown up and lived in a toxic environment like that, it is easy for us to say, “if I where in his/her shoes, I would not put with their behavior,” meanwhile we feel this way and are often completely ignorant of the circumstances. Maybe that “dysfunctional” person has a crippling addiction or mental illness, often both go hand in hand. Fortunately for me, I was spared from that environment. However, I have
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It appears to me, that Jimmy possesses the characteristics of someone who may be suffering from a mental illness that has gone undiagnosed and untreated. Jimmy’s frequent, short outbursts are indicative of someone who has Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Intermittent Explosive Disorder is characterized by severe recurrent short-term temper outbursts manifested verbally and/or behaviorally; between outbursts there is no lingering feeling of irritability or anger (DSM Library). Jimmy, on several occasions throughout the play displayed abrupt flares of anger especially toward his wife, Alison. Alison could have been doing something as harmless as twiddling her thumbs, and Jimmy would fall into a violent rage against her, calling her names and screaming at her. In the stage direction on page 21, it says, “He’s been cheated out of his response, but he’s got to draw blood somehow.” This situation would be an insignificant offense in many circumstances, but because Jimmy has Intermittent Explosive Disorder was “cheated out of a response” from Cliff and Alison, he begins a verbal tirade against his wife, calling her a “monument to non-attachment” (21). Which is a very interesting insult because Alison, to deal with all of Jimmy’s outbursts, must be very attached to him. Jimmy has demonstrated the behavioral aspect to …show more content…
Being that Alison is his wife, he targets her more than Cliff or Helena, this may be because he is the most intimate with her out of the three saying to Alison, “There’s hardly a moment when I’m not- watching and wanting you. I’ve got to hit it out somehow. Nearly four years of being… with you, and I still can’t stop my sweat breaking out when I see you…” (33). Even with his explosive outburst he appears to have the most personal and sensitive moments with Alison. It is possible that Jimmy’s temperament is dependent on which he is interacting with and the comfort level he has with that person “Trouble is-Trouble is you get used to people” (33). They often describe their relationship as a bear and a squirrel. The role of the bear if often projected aggressive and over powering strength, but it is also as an intimate child’s toy for comfort and affection, which is Jimmy. In contrast the role of the squirrel is always depicted as defenseless and skittish, but playful is Alison. This is the image of their relationship, the bear and the squirrel, animals that are completely incompatible in nature. Their relationship is a Romeo-Juliet cliché, two people who can not be together, but end up together all the
It appears to me, that Jimmy possesses the characteristics of someone who may be suffering from a mental illness that has gone undiagnosed and untreated. Jimmy’s frequent, short outbursts are indicative of someone who has Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Intermittent Explosive Disorder is characterized by severe recurrent short-term temper outbursts manifested verbally and/or behaviorally; between outbursts there is no lingering feeling of irritability or anger (DSM Library). Jimmy, on several occasions throughout the play displayed abrupt flares of anger especially toward his wife, Alison. Alison could have been doing something as harmless as twiddling her thumbs, and Jimmy would fall into a violent rage against her, calling her names and screaming at her. In the stage direction on page 21, it says, “He’s been cheated out of his response, but he’s got to draw blood somehow.” This situation would be an insignificant offense in many circumstances, but because Jimmy has Intermittent Explosive Disorder was “cheated out of a response” from Cliff and Alison, he begins a verbal tirade against his wife, calling her a “monument to non-attachment” (21). Which is a very interesting insult because Alison, to deal with all of Jimmy’s outbursts, must be very attached to him. Jimmy has demonstrated the behavioral aspect to …show more content…
Being that Alison is his wife, he targets her more than Cliff or Helena, this may be because he is the most intimate with her out of the three saying to Alison, “There’s hardly a moment when I’m not- watching and wanting you. I’ve got to hit it out somehow. Nearly four years of being… with you, and I still can’t stop my sweat breaking out when I see you…” (33). Even with his explosive outburst he appears to have the most personal and sensitive moments with Alison. It is possible that Jimmy’s temperament is dependent on which he is interacting with and the comfort level he has with that person “Trouble is-Trouble is you get used to people” (33). They often describe their relationship as a bear and a squirrel. The role of the bear if often projected aggressive and over powering strength, but it is also as an intimate child’s toy for comfort and affection, which is Jimmy. In contrast the role of the squirrel is always depicted as defenseless and skittish, but playful is Alison. This is the image of their relationship, the bear and the squirrel, animals that are completely incompatible in nature. Their relationship is a Romeo-Juliet cliché, two people who can not be together, but end up together all the