In literature and film, the taboo topic of mental illness is often utilised as a mechanism to either initiate the plot or convey certain themes within the piece. In Paul Coehlo's 1998 novel, "Veronika Decides to Die", the seemingly successful protagonist, Veronika, chooses to commit suicide as she believes that life is meaningless and empty. On the other hand, "Girl, Interrupted" is a film directed by James Mangold and is based on the memoir written by Susanna Kaysen's, depicting her time in a women's mental institution during the 1960's. The plot of both texts resemble one another in some aspects as each piece explores the subject of mental illnesses, focusing on themes such as death, sanity and conformity. "Girl, Interrupted" conveys the
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Contrastingly, in "Veronika Decides to Die", Coehlo establishes the negative consequence of unhappiness when individuals choose to dismiss their personal aspirations in order to conform to society's idea of stability and happiness.
The protagonists in both pieces are similar in a sense that they experience great difficulty transitioning into adulthood, specifically when deciding on a suitable career path; the characters also face their underlying mental illnesses throughout the story. The combination of these stressful factors ultimately leads to their attempted suicides. The stories are told in first person, from the perspective of the protagonist, incorporating a personal tone to the entirety of both works. Throughout each piece, the character's memories are also reflected upon through a series of flashbacks. In "Veronika Decides to Die", flashback is utilised to show how, despite her evident passion, Veronika is strongly discouraged from becoming a pianist and forced into attaining a sustainable career. The flashback is an important part of her characterisation as it foreshadows her gradual path of unhappiness, leading her to view her life as meaningless; this state of mind results in her carefree behaviour
Contrastingly, in "Veronika Decides to Die", Coehlo establishes the negative consequence of unhappiness when individuals choose to dismiss their personal aspirations in order to conform to society's idea of stability and happiness.
The protagonists in both pieces are similar in a sense that they experience great difficulty transitioning into adulthood, specifically when deciding on a suitable career path; the characters also face their underlying mental illnesses throughout the story. The combination of these stressful factors ultimately leads to their attempted suicides. The stories are told in first person, from the perspective of the protagonist, incorporating a personal tone to the entirety of both works. Throughout each piece, the character's memories are also reflected upon through a series of flashbacks. In "Veronika Decides to Die", flashback is utilised to show how, despite her evident passion, Veronika is strongly discouraged from becoming a pianist and forced into attaining a sustainable career. The flashback is an important part of her characterisation as it foreshadows her gradual path of unhappiness, leading her to view her life as meaningless; this state of mind results in her carefree behaviour