Good Example Of Research Proposal On Soldier’s Home And Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The works of Ernest Hemingway speak volumes about the man and the events that shaped his life. The short story, Soldier’s Home, provides a glimpse into his life following World War I and the difficulties encountered after returning to his home town. Soldier’s Home is indicative of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). What role did PTSD have in his life and was he able to effectively overcome it, or was the primary factor in his mental descent attributed to his family history combined with his artistic nature? How has PTSD been viewed and treated since WWI?
Ernest Hemingway continues to be an enigma 54 years following his death in 1961. After reading Soldier’s Home, the difficulties experienced when returning from a war became apparent. The emotions and attitude presented by the characters in the story create a sensation that life was different following the war, perhaps eventually leading to his practice of self-medication. In 2006, Martin performed a post-mortem psychological examination through an in-depth study of Hemingway’s biographies, literature, personal correspondence, photographs, and medical records in an effort to understand the underlying issues (p. 351). This report will be compared with earlier assessments to determine if consistency exists.
Hemingway’s family has a deep history of mental issues, including several family members who committed suicide. Research concerning mental illness has advanced significantly during the past 100 years. What role, if any, does genetics play within the realms of mental illness? As some research is indicative that genetics is a primary factor in certain conditions (DeLisi), others counter this claim by indicating the research is incomplete (Thomas). Other studies will also be examined in an effort to determine the underlying causes of mental illness and why some families show a predisposition toward certain conditions (Arnsten).
Lahti provides research concerning the effects of trauma as it exists in war fiction throughout American literature (2014). This demonstrates the issues individuals encounter throughout their military encounters as well as providing the psychoanalytical basis for the associated conditions. Further review of this document should demonstrate which themes are more commonly experienced and provide further insight into Soldier’s Home. A variety of factors appear to cause this increase, primarily a combination of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and pain (Saxon), all of which Hemingway experienced. Veterans are diagnosed with PTSD on a regular basis. The criteria as supplied by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the diagnosis will be compared to Soldier’s Home to determine if the attitudes and mannerisms described in the story are consistent with the official criteria.
This paper will attempt to provide insight into the central theme of Soldier’s Home, the impact WWI, the possible impact of genetics, and substance abuse contributed to the mental decline and eventual suicide of Hemingway, as well as the continuing influence Soldier’s Home has in the understanding and treatment of PTSD and other issues facing veterans.

Works Cited

Hemmingway, Ernest. "Soldier’s Home." The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014. 165-171. Print.
Martin, Christopher D. “Ernest Hemingway: A Psychological Autopsy of a Suicide”. Psychiatry. Winter 2006. Web. 2015 March 26.
DeLisi, Lynn E. “Pursuit of the ‘truth’ about mental illness: the significance of findings in neuropsychitatric research and lessons from the past”. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience. 2014 December. Web. 2015 March 26.
Arnsten, Amy F.T. “Catecholamine and Second Messenger Influences on Prefrontal Cortical Networks of ‘Representational Knowledge’: A Rational Bridge between Genetics and Symptoms of Mental Illness”. Cerebral Cortex. 2007 April 13. Web. 2015 March 27.
Thomas, Kaz. “Mental Illness: It’s Not in Your Genes”. Big Think. (n.d.). Web. 2015 March 26.
Saxon, Andrew J. “Returning Veterans With Addictions”. Psychiatric Times. 2011 July 14. Web. 2015 March 26.
PTSD: National Center for PTSD. “DSM-5 Criteria for PTSD”. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Web. 2015 March 27.