The Influence of Others: Author’s Craft Often times in life, people are blinded by their own perceptions, unable to recognize the emotions of those around them. This theme is exhibited within the memoir Unbearable Lightness, written by Portia De Rossi. The author delineates the struggles present within her life as a result of her eating disorder. But despite her tribulation, throughout the majority of the text, Rossi is unable to acknowledge the fact that her habits are threatening to both her mental and physical health.
However, her mother, empowered by her love and concern towards her daughter, recognizes Rossi’s crippling well-being, ringing forth a new perspective into her life. In regards to this, Portia De Rossi incorporates the element of characterization, specifically thoughts and the effect on others, to portray the theme of it may take an alternative standpoint to shed light on the truth that has since been hidden beneath one’s personal perception. To begin, Rossi’s mother’s ability to identify the unhealthy nature of her daughter’s condition exemplifies the true seriousness of her eating disorder.
The mother provided a second opinion when she “pulled away from [a] hug and looked [Rossi] up and down. You’re too thin! ” (Rossi 197). During their xchange the mother is able to conclude that her daughter is much “too thin” by simply embracing her. Furthermore, her unconditional love for her daughter is evident within her speech, for she points out her emaciation to suggest she partake a healthier diet that does not leave her overly “thin. ” However, not only do her concerns for her daughter explicate her compassion for her, they also clarify the urgency of situation.
For instance, In Rossi’s mind, she believes that the harmful restrictions she is putting into her diet are fine, for they have proven to successfully cause weight loss in the past. In this piece of haracterization, however, Rossi’s mind is opened to an alternative perspective and to the fact that her health may truly be at risk. With this in mind, the device of characterization is incorporated into the text to reveal the everlasting effects of an outside viewpoint. In addition to this, Rossi’s response to her mother’s sorrow exhibits the true impact of these exterior opinions of her perception of her current circumstances.
After hearing her mother’s distressed thoughts regarding her gauntness, Rossi realized that she “made her worry. [She] took a deep breath, and [her] eyes welled up with tears. [She] hated eeing her so uncomfortable, not knowing where to look or what to say” (Rossi 199). Rossi, overwhelmed by heavy “breaths[s]” and uncontrollable “tears,” came to terms with the fact that her mother had been correct to state that she was, in fact, “too thin” to be considered healthy. As a result of her altered mindset, she felt immediate guilt, realizing the “worry” she had put her mother through as a result of her disorder.
In light of this, Rossi’s eyes were opened to a secondary opinion on her illness, as portrayed by her own character development. In summary, characterization, specifically Rossi’s thoughts, are tilized in order to portray the influence of an outside opinion on one’s take on their own well-being. In conclusion, the mother’s opinion emphasized the importance of the situation. Additionally, Rossi’s standpoint on her weight was altered by that of her mother. In regards to this, the element of characterization is incorporated within the text to further the theme of the perspective of another may leave one conscious of a new outlook on life.
The Meaning of Life: Connection to a Work of Art When one allows their mind to be consumed by an unyielding thought, it may grant this particular thought the ability to dictate ne’s life. This concept is exhibited within the memoir Unbearable Lightness, written by Portia De Rossi, as it depicts the perpetual struggles affiliated with eating disorders. In addition to this, the artwork below portrays a similar message, through the use of symbolism, in regards to intrusive thoughts.
With this in mind, both the memoir and the artwork delineate, through the utilization of symbolism, the ability of an eating disorder to define one’s existence. To begin, Rossi incorporates a symbol within her text to portray the mental tribulation she has experienced as a result of her illness. After onsuming a meal consisting merely of potatoes, Rossi, under the influence of her disorder, perceived the aftermath as so; “They will make me fat because it’s not just some potatoes that I just ate, it’s the potatoes I know I’m going to eat in the future now I’ve allowed myself to eat those.
By eating those potatoes I could get back to the same old yo-yo dieting pattern and suffer in the way that l’d suffered from age twelve to twenty-five. Eating those potatoes will make me poor. So eating those potatoes will make me fat. Because without any money or a career, I will definitely end up fat” (Rossi 224). Potatoes, which embody her anxiety, have led Rossi to fear being “fat. ” This phobia, awakened by her detrimental illness, causes her mind to retaliate against her health and well-being, for she desires “dieting” that places her on the verge of starvation and even risks her life.
Additionally, her innermost demons continue to tear apart her sanity when she begins to relate her mere consumption of a few “potatoes” to her “career,” financial status, and ultimate “future. ” This is due her mind’s tendency to perceive her thoughts in a gradually downwards spiral, beginning with something as insignificant as “potatoes” and ransforming them into potentially losing her job and her subsequent “money. ” In light of this, the symbol of potatoes as anxiety furthers the concept that eating disorders allow one’s thoughts to dictate one’s perception of life.
Secondly, the artwork utilizes symbolism to further the idea of one’s most dreadful thoughts may influence their most dreadful actions. The image depicts measuring tape tied in such a way to resemble a noose, which is a common tool involved in one’s suicide. The symbol of the tape as death exemplifies the concept that the obsession towards one’s measurements, which s brought forth by eating disorders, may trouble the victim so greatly to the point of their suicide.
Simply put, the drawing reflects upon the fact that eating disorders kill: whether the death be of the mind’s ability to comprehend reality or of the person themself. In relation to this, Rossi is tormented by her thoughts focused primarily on her weight and is consumed by her fear of becoming “fat. ” However, her unyielding desire to maintain such low numbers regarding her weight may ultimately lead to her demise. In summary, the drawing portrays a similar concept about eating disorders as Portia De Rossi pitomizes within her own memoir through the usage of symbolism.
In conclusion, intrusive thoughts may result in a realignment of one’s perception of reality, just as they did for Rossi. Through these relentless thoughts, potatoes are symbolised as anxiety. Furthermore, the drawing represents the mind’s ability to end the life of its beholder. In this creation, measuring tape embodies suicide. In regards to this, as depicted by both the memoir and the artwork through the element of symbolism, one’s eating disorder possesses the potential to dictate one’s life and, potentially, the ultimate decision of whether or not to end this life.
