Burton's Perspective

 Robert Burton explored melancholy deeply in all areas of expertise. With multiple editions to research and exploration, Burton became an expert on what we now know as depression. Then, melancholy was both from the source of love and religion and are closely explained in Burton's text. From a wide range of years engrossed in this genre of feeling, Burton studied melancholy such that it would be peeled back in layers in a way. Three sections of the comprehensive text explain, "nature, symptoms, and diverse causes of melancholy" which range from "God to witches and devils, poverty and imprisonment, parents and 'overmuch study', 'desire of revenge', or 'overmuch use of hot wines". Through this perspective, melancholy was thought of as a result from the environment or surrounding to on person. This perspective can be viewed a bit differently than some of the others we had looked at thus far. Sure, most people assume melancholy comes from an uncontrolled reason but many people blamed the person for letting it sink their being to the bottom of the ocean floor (metaphorically speaking). Burton goes on in his text to describe cures such that they can consist of dieting, exercise, potions, and blood-letting just to name a few. This approach is to explain that in order to dismiss melancholy in someone, that person has to take charge of their life and make the changes themselves by either living healthier for the body itself as it has been taken a toll on or simply trusting fate. During this time, melancholy was thought to be a trait of the weak (as mentioned previously about letting it weigh someone down) of which Burton explains that in order to recover, you cannot let this occur but instead build the body stronger. I cannot help but wonder if his exploration came from a place of curiosity or to send out a source of help for those suffering like he was. It can't be a personal journal for himself and for those suffering, could it? 


http://www.loyalbooks.com/book/Anatomy-of-Melancholy-1



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