Silver Water

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Pages: 5
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"Silver Water" is a short story written by Amy Bloom. Amy Bloom is a New York Times best seller and a Creative Writing professor at Wesleyan University’s Shapiro-Silverberg in Connecticut. Silver Water is a multi-faceted, dark comedic journey of mental illness not only within common society, but how it is intrinsically connected and different within a family household as well. While the plot of the story seems to be straight-forward and fairly simple, its deep seated pain and humor which the family has endured and dealt with, is one of the most fundamental aspects of what this writing represents. The dichotomy of society's views of the family and specifically Rose, and the ways that the family themselves process and accept Rose's mental state, …show more content…
Violet, her mother and her father, have chosen to love their daughter Rose and see her flaws and mental decline as a beautiful part of who she is. Violet clearly describes her sister in such a way as "My sister’s voice was like mountain water in a silver pitcher; the clear blue beauty of it cools you and lifts you up beyond your heat, beyond your body." Although Violet's sister has gained weight and her appearance has suffered as much as her mental state, she wants the audience to understand and see her beauty, talent and life as something magical and special, regardless of its challenge and pain. "The perspective that Bloom brings to mental illness in this story would perhaps sound brittle and uncaring except for the fact that Violet and, indeed, her whole family have earned the right to take a comic approach to Rose’s mental illness" (Charles E. May, …show more content…
While society has accepted many different aspects of mental health as legitimate and real, there is so much disregard to all of the components that come along with individuals and families who suffer through it all. With mental health being a hot topic of emotional variety, the dark humor of this story reflects the realistic and human nature of coping and understanding how to navigate these dark sectors of life. Silver Water has the ability for readers to find sympathy, empathy and compassion for those who are struggling individually and for those whose loved ones are struggling. As the topics of this story have so much depth into the hardships that many people face, it is a window into the realities of so many people who are around us. The hope of this story is to embrace the stigma that mental issues create, providing hope for its audience. It explores unusual family dynamics and ends on a dirty and emotional note that gives clear insight into the battles of mental disorder, specifically
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