Hurtful Literature Which Books Cause Sadness

Obviously it’s better to give some books a wide berth if you are of impressionable disposition. It’s not about scary books – they hardly can do any lasting harm – but about the books that carry nothing but gloom, doom and depression. If you tend to take everything you read or see to heart they may not only spoil your mood, but leave an impression that will haunt you long afterwards. After all, once you’ve read a book there is no way to unread it – and the more harrowing impression it left, the longer it will take for you to stop thinking about it. Here are just a few examples of books disturbing enough to be avoided by those faint of heart. Jerzy Kosinski, The Painted Bird If you want to keep your belief in general goodness of human nature, don’t even touch this book. It follows the wanderings of a little boy, an orphan of uncertain parentage, through the Eastern European countryside during World War II. Wanton cruelty and senseless savagery are all around him: people look like subhuman beasts engaging in all kinds of depravity and pointless violence both towards each other and him. No wonder that the child is deeply traumatized by the experience and develops nearly psychopathic tendencies, returning the hatred inflicted by the world a hundredfold. Franz Kafka, The Trial Or, rather, anything by Kafka. The books by this German writer are a pure embodiment of bleakness, depression and hopelessness. The main characters finds himself on trial for some serious offense, but all his attempts to find out why it happens to him (and, indeed, what his offense is) end in complete failure. The world here is depicted as a cold, hostile or, rather, a completely indifferent place which works according to its own incomprehensible and absurd laws. It won’t stop at grinding down anybody who happens to be caught between its cogwheels. The word â€Å"Kafkaesque† with exactly this meaning – absurd, bleak, bureaucratically nightmarish – derives from here, which should serve as a clue for what to expect. George Orwell, 1984 Some dystopian novels are simply an intellectual exercise in depicting how human society would look if some unpleasant tendencies took over. 1984, however, is different. In addition to being a dystopia it is also a study of human nature, and it finds human nature wanting. There is no future here – only constant fear, despair, betrayal and no hope for release. Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle Vonnegut’s writings in general can hardly be called cheerful, but Cat’s Cradle is by far the most sinister and pessimistic of his works. Although it brims to the top with typical Vonnegut’s black humor and sarcasm, it only makes the matters worse. Again, we see a study in human nature, in mankind’s desire for knowledge turning into the greatest peril it ever encounters. The world dies, and its doom is a result not of some titanic struggle but of one man’s hubris and a string of ridiculous coincidences.

Alzheimer s Disease ( Ad ) Essay - 1765 Words

Alzheimer’s Disease is similar to a literal chipping block of the brain; it is like this conscious genetic machine that (figuratively and) continually deep-fries brain cells and makes them clump up into masses that entangle many cognitive processes that allow an individual to be who they are. It is the slow progression into death where the mental faculties are ravaged and pilfered; the sinews that tie each and every neuron and synapse together. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a condition where there are different effects for different people; but most of all, it is a disease that robs a person of their personality, memory, individuality and their functional health (Kail, 568). Over ten (10) years ago, my grandmother had passed away from complications of AD, I remember how slowly the disease took over her life. As I have become older, I realize some of the things that she had done in the past that were early warning signs. To illustrate this further: One day I remember going to my grandmother’s house after school to check up on her. It was sometime in 2004 when I noticed something odd. Not a single thing in the house had been moved or cleaned for quite some time. There was three exceptions: the bathroom, patio and the kitchen. Every other place in her house was dusty and unkempt; there were newspapers and mail stacked up to the ceiling in the patio and it seems like my grandmother had resorted to living in her patio full time (which was sheltered and had four walls). HerShow MoreRelatedAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1108 Words   |  5 Pages Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a form of dementia that affects 5 million people in the United States alone. One out of every three Seniors die of the disease just in the United States; 80 million suffering world wide making AD the 6th largest cause of death (climax) (Humpel 1; Alzheimer’s Association). AD is the most common dementia; affecting the ne uroplasticity of the brain resulting in physical shrinking of the tissues; thus causing neurodegeneration. Diagnosis of the disease is complex, costlyRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad ) Essay1112 Words   |  5 Pages Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia in the elderly, accounting for 65–70% of all cases (Jellinger, Janetzky, Attems, Kienzl, 2008). The other dementias are of the Parkinson s group, the fronto-temporal group and the vascular group. The total worldwide yearly costs for the treatment and care of patients suffering from dementia are estimated to be around 250 billion US dollars. The lifetime risk for AD between the ages of 65 and 100 is 33% for men and 45% for women withRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1244 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer s disease(AD) wrecks memory and other essential mental capacities. Research has shown that numerous individuals with dementia, particularly those who are sixty-five or older, have brain impairments. Al l through the numerous periods of Alzheimer s disease, people appear to show any indication, yet harmful changes are occurring in the cerebrum. An unnatural deposit of proteins structure amyloid plaques and tau tangles all through the brain, and once the active neurons quit working, theyRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1112 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disease that is currently being managed by symptomatic treatment. The affected areas include the central nervous system (CNS) which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is essential in managing our thoughts, cognitive abilities, and our ability to interact with the environment. AD patients are known to experience symptoms such as memory loss in the early stages which develop into speaking difficulties to eventuallyRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )2192 Words   |  9 PagesAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a cognitive neurodegerative disorder a nd one of the major forms of dementia; it represents 60-80% of the dementia patients (Barker et at., 2002). It is estimated by the end of 2015, 53 million people of America would be affected and this would almost double by 2025 and triple by 2050, hence making research momentous for the cure (Hebert et al., 2013). It takes almost 8.5 years between the onset of symptoms of the disease and death (Francis, Palmer, Snape et al., 1998). AD affectsRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1068 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by ÃŽ ²-amyloid plaque formation caused by aggregation of ÃŽ ²-amyloid42 within the brain leading to a progressive decline in cognitive function and memory loss (2). Hyperphosphorylated tau protein is occasionally found in brains of AD patients with advanced pathology however, it is not necessarily an indicator of AD but considered a sign of disease severity (2, 4, Kosik et al, 1986). AD is separated into two subcategories followingRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1172 Words   |  5 PagesAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a disorder that is characterized by degeneration of the hippocampal and cortical neurons of the brain – causing memory impairment and a decline in cognitive abilities. The current study by Ghoneim et al.1 focuses on the role of three proteins in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling is important for development and maintenance of normal neuronal circuits in the brain. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is expressed by astrocytesRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1361 Words   |  6 PagesAlzheimer’s disease (AD), according to Shan (2013), â€Å"is the most common form of dementia. It is a degenerative, incurable, and terminal disease.† (p. 32). AD is a disease in which the brain essentially deteriorates, is vastly progressive, and complex. Because there is no cure for this disease, scientists and researchers should continue seeking effective prevention measures. Alzheimer’s disease accounts for hundreds of thousands of geriatric deaths each year, and affects not only the patient, butRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad ) Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pages This paper explores various elements and issues related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Topics briefly detailed include etiology, symptomology, diagnosis, neuroanatomy, neurotransmitter systems involved and treatments that focus on neurotransmitters. Emphasis is placed on such topics as cognitive decline and dementia; neurological change; and changes to neurotransmitters and synapses. Details concerning diagnosis and treatment are brief, but do elaborate somewhat on present studies into addressingRead MoreAlzheimer s Disease ( Ad )1067 Words   |  5 Pageswith Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a brain disease that slowly eradicates recollection, thinking skills and slowly the ability to perform menial tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is classified as the loss of cognitive functioning-thinking, remembering, and reasoning- and behavioral abilities to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities. (****1*) Dementia can vary depending on the types of brain changes such as Lewy body disease, (which are abnormalities

The Theme of Alienation free essay sample

The stories â€Å"A Clean Well-Lighted Place† and â€Å"The Wall† clearly describe the dark side of alienation. As one reads these works one gets a true feeling for the plights endured by the old man in, â€Å"A Clean Well-Lighted Place† and Pablo in, â€Å"The Wall†. This essay will discuss and compare the theme of loneliness among these characters. In â€Å"A Clean Well-Lighted Place† we are introduced to a deaf old man who visits a cafe frequently in the evenings. It becomes clear rather quickly that this old man is quite lonely. We see this in the fact that he never has any company sitting with him and also in the way the two waiters in the story talk about him. An example of the waiters view is seen in the dialogue between them whereas the younger waiter has no tolerance for the old man’s isolatory manner. When they are discussing the fact that the old man has not left the cafe and it is late, the older waiter defends him by saying, â€Å"he stays up because he likes it† while the younger waiter answers by saying, â€Å"He’s lonely. We will write a custom essay sample on The Theme of Alienation or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I’m not lonely. I have a wife waiting in bed for me. † Both waiters have opposing views of this man. What is striking is that the waiter who is dealing with alienation himself is quite compassionate towards the old man, whereas the other waiter has no tolerance for his existence. The young man’s flippant response is symbolic of the tendency of society to quickly negate the elderly, not only because of their age, but also due to a disregard for their existence. This, in turn, can create a sense of isolation for an elderly people. Now, let’s look more closely at the old man’s behavior. A theme that is evident in this character in regard to alienation is distraction. There is a tendency for lonely people to want to distract themselves from their loneliness. This is quite apparent when the old man continues to request more brandy by gesturing, â€Å"A little more,† and also by saying, â€Å"Another brandy†. How often do people who are lonely try to quell that feeling through alcohol. Another thing to note is that this man supposedly has a lot of money, but it is obvious money does not take away loneliness. This is a common occurrence in society as well. How often have we heard stories of lonely millionaires? They have everything, but companionship, which basically is much more fulfilling than material goods. Alienation is introduced again through the character, Pablo, in, â€Å"The Wall†. In this essay Pablo was forced into isolation by suddenly being thrown into prison. One is taken on his journey as he goes through the stages of loneliness while facing possible execution. He wrestles with isolation by moving through varying spectrums ranging from complete detachment to harkening to his past life. This fluid range of thinking differs from the old man’s isolation process. These differences will be discussed further. When comparing Pablo to the old man one can infer that Pablo’s isolation has nothing to do with age, rather, as mentioned previously, his isolation is a forced one. Suddenly finding oneself in prison, one does not have the luxury to choose loneliness. In contrast, it is possible that the old man has chosen the path of loneliness. However, what makes these characters similar is the theme of distraction and isolation. Both characters tried hard to get their minds off of their lack of social connections. At one point Pablo tries to distract himself by reflecting on his past. We see this in the quote, â€Å"A crowd of memories came back to me pell-mell. † At this point he reflects on things such as his uncle’s face, the time when he was unemployed, and a time when he went without eating during a three day period. Concerning the old man, distraction comes into play through his drinking and also in his desire to be in an environment that had light and people even if he was there as a detached presence. In conclusion, the authors present solid representations of alienation through the old man and Pablo. Whether isolation comes from choice or forces it, it still has negative connotations to it. It could be said that alienation is one of the highest forms of punishment. It can put one in a prison literally or figuratively.