On Pathography
What does sick look like, anyways? Why do humans write them? Robert Maunder, a physiatrist and professor, illustrates an essay called, “On Pathography,” that presents meta-commentary stories in Body & Soul. The genre of literature called, “pathography,” describes his essay and interest about being sick. Maunder establishes terms such as battle, triumph and survivor to reflect on the narratives of illness. He describes his essay through elements of critical thinking by clarity, evidence of support and assumptions underlying the argument. As a result, Robert Maunder clearly manifest his main proposal successfully.
Maunder expresses the clarity of his main argument of pathography through his beliefs. For several of patients, to triumph over sickness, signifies an important part of the experience. The best pathographies, in Maunder’s eyes, are those “like the best novels and poems, {he} suppose, describe life with subtlety contradiction, emotion, depth, beauty and banality. But it helps to read the best” (Maunder, 2004). Sometimes, the most efficient teaching aid is to analyze and read written accounts of one’s aspect from sickness or facing death as it can receive empathy towards one another. Patients who are diagnosed with a terminal illness can evoke fear, depression and anger. However, Maunder also believes that the best pathgraphies are those “who are curious and unashamed enough to write about what illness has done to their minds and preferences and relationships” (Maunder, 2004). It indicates that the existential truth is a familiar nidus of reflection for a sick writer, which the author compares to personal victory.
The capability of understanding and connecting with one and another is faint. Maunder argues how “a critically ill person needs above all is to be understood. Dying is a misunderstanding that you have to get straightened out before you go“ (Maunder, 2004). Sickness cannot be acknowledged for understanding, until your friends and family, with
Maunder expresses the clarity of his main argument of pathography through his beliefs. For several of patients, to triumph over sickness, signifies an important part of the experience. The best pathographies, in Maunder’s eyes, are those “like the best novels and poems, {he} suppose, describe life with subtlety contradiction, emotion, depth, beauty and banality. But it helps to read the best” (Maunder, 2004). Sometimes, the most efficient teaching aid is to analyze and read written accounts of one’s aspect from sickness or facing death as it can receive empathy towards one another. Patients who are diagnosed with a terminal illness can evoke fear, depression and anger. However, Maunder also believes that the best pathgraphies are those “who are curious and unashamed enough to write about what illness has done to their minds and preferences and relationships” (Maunder, 2004). It indicates that the existential truth is a familiar nidus of reflection for a sick writer, which the author compares to personal victory.
The capability of understanding and connecting with one and another is faint. Maunder argues how “a critically ill person needs above all is to be understood. Dying is a misunderstanding that you have to get straightened out before you go“ (Maunder, 2004). Sickness cannot be acknowledged for understanding, until your friends and family, with