Loneliness Kills

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can help ease one’s depression, and ironically Winnie is exposed to the sunlight throughout the whole play except for the few moments she opens her umbrella. The sunlight could be what enhances Winnie’s constant positivity.

As for Willie, I question if his negativity would be so extreme if Winnie hadn’t been constantly blabbing. Would he become just as unsettled with the silence and then begin to act the same way as Winnie? Never really experiencing silence because of Winnie, he never feels the sense of isolation. The two characters are on two separate ends of the spectrum. If Winnie did not speak as much as she did, Willie may become bothered by the silence and begin to feel the same as Winnie does, but since she continuously speaks, Willie never gets the sense of silence and isolation. He is constantly being given attention, but does not reciprocate it to Winnie, resulting in Winnie being the way she is.

Adding to Winnie’s reasons for depression, having no ambition is a certain factor. A common feeling among those who suffer from depression is being unsure of what they have to live for. For example, many say in order to steer from depression , set goals and give yourself something to work at and ultimately achieve. With that being said, Winnie does not have much to live for, which is why she looks forward to her morning rituals. This daily ritual gives Winnie a sense of responsibility, duty and schedule. This consists of brushing her teeth, combing her hair and taking her dietary supplement. Connecting to today’s society who conforms to a schedule that is typically repeated weekly, Winnie’s ritual gives her a similar feeling of duty. The feeling of duty can be considered a feeling of purpose, which Winnie yearns for.

Never letting silence settle in, Winnie discusses the duet song she admires, showing her deep desire for love. According to Web MD, love can increase one’s lifespan, reduce depression, and reduce anxiety and increase happiness. Unfortunately, the only impression of love that is shown from Willie is at the end of the play when it seems to have been too late. This intensifies and proves the theory that loneliness can kill.