Hemingway's Psychological State

Ernest Hemingway, although one of the greatest American writers, was also a man in a shaky psychological state. Because of his participation in war, leading to possible post-traumatic stress syndrome, Hemingway went the route of alcoholism, and extreme risk taking sport to calm his nerves.

Alcohol in particular would lead later to more psychological problems as his brain functions were severely effected by the long-time use of alcohol as medication. These "defense mechanisms" (Martin) were clearly a result of his continual battle with depression. Hemingway would eventually be admitted to the Mayo Clinic where he would receive shock therapy. In a quotation from him there, he described that a true way to understanding the underlying psychology of a person is through creative writing. "They should make all psychiatrists take a course in creative writing so they'd know about writers," he claimed. From this statement it is obvious that his main source of coping with his disorder was to write, and his personality is found in his stories, which is what makes him the great author critics see him to be.

After receiving a second round of shock therapy, even after disclosing his distaste for it, Hemingway committed suicide. After a life of war, battles with stress and depression, the modes of curing just were not suitable for Hemingway. Hemingway exemplified a recurring group of people in history, masterful artists whose own mind is their downfall. Although paradoxical, it makes sense that the people with the greatest minds would also have the most dangerous.

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