Virginia_Woolf_Bio

Historical Investigation Proposal 1.Outline the title/are of your proposed research. You must include a short outline of the controversy(ies) amongst historians that is to be the central focus of this historiographical project. An interdisciplinary approach to the study of the history of a personality, issue or event: Compare the different interpretations of the assessment of Winston Churchill’s decline in mental health in the writings of Lord Moran, Martin Gilbert and Anthony Storr. Winston Churchill was a multi-faceted man. With the posthumous release of his private physician’s memoir, subsequent psychoanalytical profiles and historiography; there has been significant controversy and debate as to whether or not Churchill suffered from depression or any form of mood disorder. For some historians, Churchill’s descriptions of the times he was depressed have not been an influential factor in their studies of him. They relegated his obvious depressive nature to insignificance in their overall assessment of his personality, character and life as a whole. Martin Gilbert, Churchill’s official biographer and a fellow historian concluded that it “seemed clear Churchill did not suffer from clinical depression.” Gilbert argued that “from a careful study of the archives and from long talks with Churchill’s colleagues, drink and depression seemed much exaggerated.” In addition to his study of Churchill’s archives, Gilbert contends that during a conversation between Churchill’s wife, Clementine and Jack Colville, Churchill’s Private Secretary, she stated that “although her husband was occasionally depressed- as indeed most normal people are- he was not abnormally subject to long fits of depression.” Gilbert does not deny the ‘black dog’ existed in Churchill’s life. In fact, Churchill’s naming of his depressive episodes as ‘black dog’ proves the familiarity of his depression. Gilbert, however, downplays Churchill’s reference to his depression as a ‘black dog’, claiming that the phrase was common amongst nannies of the period to suggest a “black dog was on one’s back during times of sour mood.” Churchill’s decline was exacerbated because he “never nursed his physique” and “failed to listen to advice” argues Moran, Churchill’s private physician. His depressive periods tended to be intense and prolonged. Sometimes they were connected with traumatic external events such as his dismissal from the Admiralty after the Dardanelles disaster in WWI. Moran depicted him as ailing, infirm, aging, uncertain and confused. In a more melancholy moment of self-reflection, Churchill told Moran about his feelings of self-destruction: “I don’t like standing near the edge of a platform when an express train is passing through. I like to stand back and if possible to get a pillar between me and a train. I don’t like to stand by the side of a ship and look down into the water. A second’s action would end everything.” Many historians and psychologists believed that Churchill was not simply depressed but suffered from classic bipolar disorder. An unnamed colleague of Churchill’s felt that while he had a “very unusual intellectual ability,” he also had an “entirely unbalanced mind.” He was accused many times of showing a complete lack of judgement. Some believed things were more complex than that- in which Churchill’s achievement were because of his bipolar disorder, not in spite of it. Adding to this belief that Churchill suffered from a variation of bipolar was Dr. Anthony Storr, psychiatrist and historian. He concluded that, “in terms of classical, descriptive psychiatry,” Churchill was of “cyclothymic temperament, with a profound tendency to depression.” However, Storr seems to say, “Had he been a stable and equable man, he could never have inspired the nation. In 1940, when all odds were against Britain, a leader of sober judgment might well have concluded that we were finished.” Storr noted Churchill’s struggles as prolonged and that he had recurrent fits of depression. The contrasting perspectives of Moran, Gilbert and Storr in respect of Churchill’s mental health and state of mind are reflective of each person’s own perception and interpretation of mental health disorders per se and the significance or impact of same on Churchill himself. Moran and Storr who both had medical backgrounds were more inclined to agree that Churchill was depressed, and Storr further conceded that he also suffered from classic bipolar. Gilbert, on the other hand, with no medical background considered Churchill’s depressive symptoms to be of insignificance. 2.Explain the reasons for your proposed research area. In this answer you should give as detailed an explanation as possible for your interest/intentions and the conclusions you consider may result from your research. The differing perceptions of Moran, Gilbert and Storr in respect to Churchill’s decline in mental health are indicative of the role of the historian and the purpose of history to serve as an educator and inform people today of the real significance of past events in shaping the present. To me, the ability to imbed history itself within the collective imaginations of man is the reason it has endured as a human science for as long as it has. The impact that depression played on both the private and public life of Winston Churchill intrigued me. This particular area of Churchill’s life has often been either overlooked or exaggerated. I wanted to examine the contrasting perspectives of several historians in their perception of mental health as a whole, and thus compare their assessments of Churchill’s decline in health and state of mind. Psychiatry has always been of great interest to me and the opportunity to be able to compare historiography and psychoanalytical case studies of Churchill appealed to me significantly. The ability to be able to psychoanalyse a person, diagnose them with a depressive disorder, or any other mental disorder has always fascinated me. Therefore, my intention of proceeding with this investigation is to widen my knowledge of mental health disorders and their impact on both the individual and society. Not-withstanding his condition, Churchill was able to perform as a statesman and a man of significant power and political knowledge. Churchill’s bouts with depression, mania and pretentious behaviours are very well documented. ‘Black dog’ was the name Churchill gave to hide his unrelenting depressive moods that immobilised him for months, sometimes years. When we put a name to our depression, it is that of the black dog, a euphemism, lurking behind us, or clinging tenaciously to our backs. Churchill drew upon this image to conceptualise his own struggle with depression, and it is with him that the metaphor is generally associated with. During these dark periods in his life, he was intensely irritable and petulant. Churchill himself acknowledged his depressive periods. In 1911 an unsourced friend of Churchill’s had claimed to have been cured of depression by a German doctor. Churchill wrote about this with some excitement in a letter to his wife, Clementine: “I think this man might be useful to me- if my black dog returns. He seems quite away from me now- it is such a relief.” When closely examining the facts of Churchill’s statements and the statements of others who knew him personally, the form of mood disorder which played a significant part in Churchill’s life is essentially impossible to disprove. In fact, there is overwhelming evidence during certain periods of his life leading to the theory of his depressive moods. Therefore, the most difficult challenge for both historians and psychiatrists alike, whom have studied Churchill closely, has been to determine what form of mood disorder he suffered from, to what degree was its severity, and how much of an impact had it made on his life' 3.List the resources you intend to consult in the conduct of the proposed research and give details of how you anticipate accessing them. I intend to use a number of varying resources including historical biographies, memoirs, a collection of letters, psychoanalytical documents and profiles, as well as the internet. There resources to date include: Storr Anthony, Churchill’s Black Dog, Kafka’s Mice, and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind (New York: Ballantine, 1990) * This essay provides sufficient information detailing a psychoanalytical case study of Winston Churchill. Storr explores Churchill’s mental health and his decline of state of mind, and how it affected him in the long run. Moran Charles Wilson, Churchill: The Struggle for Survival (New York: Carroll and Graf, 2006) * Moran’s memoir is a first-hand account of Churchill’s struggle for survival and includes quotes and detailed documentation of Churchill’s depressive disorder. Gilbert Martin, In Search of Churchill (New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1994) * Gilbert’s account of Churchill’s life has possibly been swayed by Churchill’s decision to employ him as his official biographer. He states that fellow historians have greatly exaggerated Winston’s mental health; however, he still acknowledges the ‘black dog’ that tore at Churchill. Moran Charles Wilson, Churchill at War: 1940-1945 (New York: Carroll and Graf, 2002) Churchill Winston, My Early Life 1874-1904(New York: Scribner, 1958) Soames Mary, Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchill’s (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998) * This collection of letters is well documented by the daughter of Churchill, Mary Soames. They provide detailed evidence of the personal relationship between Churchill and his wife, Clementine and include letters from Churchill acknowledging his depression. Jenkins Roy, Churchill: A Biography (New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 2002) * Similarly to Gilbert, Jenkins believed that Churchill’s depressive disorder was highly exaggerated as is evident in his biography of Churchill. JSTOR * The school has allowed me access to JSTOR which provides many accounts and assessments of Churchill’s health, and personality. In order to access these materials, I have visited several libraries, including Fisher and the State Library of New South Wales, as well as the Macindoe Research Center. These libraries have allowed me to freely access sought information and have benefited me greatly in the conduct of my research. By Mariam Ghani -------------------------------------------- [ 2 ]. Gilbert Martin, In Search of Churchill (New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1994) [ 3 ]. Moran Charles Wilson, Churchill: The Struggle for Survival (New York: Carroll and Graf, 2006) [ 4 ]. Storr Anthony, Churchill’s Black Dog, Kafka’s Mice, and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind (New York: Ballantine, 1990) [ 5 ]. Soames Mary, Winston and Clementine: The Personal Letters of the Churchill’s (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998)