The dictionary defines malady as “an unwholesome or desperate condition.” What are the various “maladies” in this story, and how are they represented? Pay particular attention to the contrast between the literal and figurative notions of sickness and how what constitutes a “malady” changes as the story develops.
The correct answer and explanation is :
In the story, the term “malady” is used both literally and figuratively to explore the deeper themes of physical and emotional illness. On a literal level, the “maladies” in the story can be seen through the physical ailments or diseases that characters suffer from. These may be illnesses, injuries, or conditions that represent a more traditional understanding of sickness. However, as the story develops, the notion of what constitutes a “malady” expands beyond the physical and comes to include emotional, psychological, and social conditions.
For example, a character’s depression, alienation, or sense of guilt can be seen as figurative maladies. These illnesses manifest in a way that is just as debilitating as a physical disease, but their effects are felt in the character’s mind, relationships, and worldview. Characters may struggle with isolation or a loss of purpose, creating a “desperate condition” of the spirit. These figurative maladies are often represented through the character’s behavior, their interactions with others, and the internal turmoil they experience.
The contrast between literal and figurative sickness becomes particularly significant as the story progresses. At first, the story might focus on physical maladies, such as a person’s injury or an illness. But over time, the emotional or social maladies take on greater importance, showing that healing requires more than just addressing the body’s condition. The development of characters through their mental and emotional journeys suggests that emotional sickness, like physical sickness, can take a toll on a person’s life. By the end of the story, the characters’ figurative maladies are intertwined with their physical states, and what initially seemed like a problem of the body transforms into a larger issue of the mind and soul. This shift highlights the complex nature of human suffering and the multidimensional way maladies can affect people.