Bdragon's Lair – Here I'm allowed everything all of the time
AshLeigh Marie Sanchez | reading | writing | creating
Bdragon's Lair – Here I'm allowed everything all of the time
Description: An exploration of madness and creativity in the lives of famous poets. Includes biographical sketches discussing their work in context, and links to other sites for further research.
poet poetry poets neurotic madness insanity creativity insane wr (1)
J ohn Dryden observed in 1681 that " Great wits are sure to madness near allied, And thin partitions do their bounds divide, " echoing the observation made centuries ago by the philosopher Aristotle that madness and genius seem to go hand in hand. In this cultural tradition, we often believe that the mental illnesses of great poets are simply a condition of their own artistic genius.
Why might creative people be prone to such dementia? Perhaps it is the fact that their subject is the world of experience itself, reflected through their creations. Perhaps in some cases it is the unceasing pressure and stress that is the nature of celebrity. In their attempt to tell the truth as they see it, poets may find pain, yet their craft itself might offer one way to lend them power over that pain.
The interest in the controversial aspects a poet's life itself can sometimes draw attention away from their creations. There is a general tendency for the sensational and pathological to attract heightened notice by the general public. This may not always be a negative thing, however, as it can generate more interest in a poet's work.
Bdragon's Lair – Here I'm allowed everything all of the time
AshLeigh Marie Sanchez | reading | writing | creating
Bdragon's Lair – Here I'm allowed everything all of the time