Who are you? Alzheimer's disease makes one forget who they are, who their family is and who their friends are.In Lisa Genova’s Still Alice portrays the story of Alice Howland’s diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease through the psychoanalytic lense. This theory is used to view and talk about this neurological disease on how it affects its victims. This novel deals with the character Alice Howland’s diagnoses of Alzheimer's which is shown through her misconceptions of her identity, prevention of daily abilities and symbolism.
To begin with, the psychoanalytic lense is used when Alice begins to forget who she really is. Since Alice is a prestigious Cognitive Psychology professor at Harvard University she finds it embarrassing that she has this …show more content…
For instance, it prevents her to go out for her regularly scheduled jogs through the Harvard University Campus. “ She wanted to continue walking but stood frozen instead. She didn't know where she was. She knew she was in Harvard square, but she didn’t know which way was home” (Genova,21). This quote tells us that Alice is not able to recall where she lives. Despite her living and working in this area for the past twenty five years she cannot remember the directions to her house. If Alice is unable to remember the most simplest things as to where she lives. How will she be able to do other day to day activities? She won’t. Which bring me to my second evidence. During their family get together on Christmas Eve Alice is unable to cook a recipe. This is not a recipe she just pulled out of an hat. It is the recipe she cooks every christmas eve. The recipe for pudding. “ ...made it every Christmas Eve since she was a young girl. How many eggs? It had to be more than six, or she would’ve only taken out one carton.Was it seven,eight, nine?The information wasn't there” (Genova,65). At this moment Alice is freaking out. She is battling with the thought of what ingredients she needs and the quantity of them. This coming from a recipe she has been cooking for ages is not a good sign. These two examples have one thing in common. They both are scenarios of …show more content…
As well as the story is written in third person point of view in the eyes which supplements the experience that the author is delivering to the reader. So the reader only knows what Alice knows. Before all else, let's begin with the butterfly. In this novel the butterfly plays big role. The butterfly is a part of Alice’s past and present. The meaning of the butterfly is introduced by the memory of her mother. Butterflies symbolize the deep and powerful representation of life. “She remembered being six or seven and crying over the fate of butterflies in her yard after learning about that they lived only for a few days. Her mother had comforted her and told her not to be sad for butterflies, that just because they were short didn't mean they were tragic”(Genova,111). This reminds Alice that it is not about living a long life. It is about living a good and positive life according to yourself which keeps her sane. In relation to the audience it tells them the same lesson. The author is making a connection with the character and the reader through similar experiences. No individual in this world has not been through a bad day and not feel sadness. Just as Alice is going through depression due to her disease. By constantly putting out the idea of a butterfly it tries to enlighten the reader and relate towards the book. This is how certain texts become close with their audiences. Next in
To begin with, the psychoanalytic lense is used when Alice begins to forget who she really is. Since Alice is a prestigious Cognitive Psychology professor at Harvard University she finds it embarrassing that she has this …show more content…
For instance, it prevents her to go out for her regularly scheduled jogs through the Harvard University Campus. “ She wanted to continue walking but stood frozen instead. She didn't know where she was. She knew she was in Harvard square, but she didn’t know which way was home” (Genova,21). This quote tells us that Alice is not able to recall where she lives. Despite her living and working in this area for the past twenty five years she cannot remember the directions to her house. If Alice is unable to remember the most simplest things as to where she lives. How will she be able to do other day to day activities? She won’t. Which bring me to my second evidence. During their family get together on Christmas Eve Alice is unable to cook a recipe. This is not a recipe she just pulled out of an hat. It is the recipe she cooks every christmas eve. The recipe for pudding. “ ...made it every Christmas Eve since she was a young girl. How many eggs? It had to be more than six, or she would’ve only taken out one carton.Was it seven,eight, nine?The information wasn't there” (Genova,65). At this moment Alice is freaking out. She is battling with the thought of what ingredients she needs and the quantity of them. This coming from a recipe she has been cooking for ages is not a good sign. These two examples have one thing in common. They both are scenarios of …show more content…
As well as the story is written in third person point of view in the eyes which supplements the experience that the author is delivering to the reader. So the reader only knows what Alice knows. Before all else, let's begin with the butterfly. In this novel the butterfly plays big role. The butterfly is a part of Alice’s past and present. The meaning of the butterfly is introduced by the memory of her mother. Butterflies symbolize the deep and powerful representation of life. “She remembered being six or seven and crying over the fate of butterflies in her yard after learning about that they lived only for a few days. Her mother had comforted her and told her not to be sad for butterflies, that just because they were short didn't mean they were tragic”(Genova,111). This reminds Alice that it is not about living a long life. It is about living a good and positive life according to yourself which keeps her sane. In relation to the audience it tells them the same lesson. The author is making a connection with the character and the reader through similar experiences. No individual in this world has not been through a bad day and not feel sadness. Just as Alice is going through depression due to her disease. By constantly putting out the idea of a butterfly it tries to enlighten the reader and relate towards the book. This is how certain texts become close with their audiences. Next in