Depression, autism, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality, these seemingly professional terms are not far away from us. People suffering from these diseases are real and exist around us in large numbers. They may be our classmates, relatives, friends, colleagues, bosses, or passers-by who pass by us every day. Most people lack the patience to really understand others. We prefer to call a "madman" behind their backs, he/she must be sick, ignore it and stay away.
Olive Kitteridge is like a modern psychoanalytic report. After reading it, I realize how helpless people who are suffering from mental torture are. They were born that way and had no choice. Like what Olive told Kevin about his mother's suicide -- "she couldn't help it, you know."
There are a few things to ponder about the four-hour story.
One is the meanness of the heroine Olive.
Olive admits to being mean. She said it stemmed from genetics. Her father suffered from depression and eventually committed suicide, and her mother suffered from depression, too. Therefore, he is a "patient" without a doubt. According to the son's recollection, in his childhood, his mother not only yelled at his father, but also slapped his son and told his son "you also have depression". This brought indelible psychological trauma to his son, which indirectly led to the breakdown of his first marriage. The son's first wife Suzanne is from California, the "it never rains in California" California. The sun, the sand, the immigrants, the left and the rebellion on the West Coast suggest that wives Suzanne and Christ are not at all the same. Christ was born in Maine, New England, where the gloomy, traditional and conservative East Coast, coupled with the depression inherited from his mother, made Christ and Suzanne's union a tragic one. Talking about his daughter-in-law and in-laws, Olive looked disdainful: They're from California, the parents. Golfing types. The father has one of those tans. It can be seen that Olive hates this kind of "sunshine" personality very much, thinking that they are pretentious and hypocritical ,madness.
Yes, Olive thinks there's nothing wrong with being depressed and mean, because mean people tend to be smarter.
In addition to the "sunshine" personality, Olive also hates "innocent cuties". Olive's husband, Henry, considers his pharmacy employee, Denise, naive, pure, warm-hearted, straightforward, and a beautiful girl like an angel. When Denise experienced the loss of her husband, Henry stepped forward and took on the role of father, taking care of her, teaching her to drive, feeding her, and comforting her. All these "sweet" behaviors were seen by Olive and disgusted in his heart. She calls Denise "your cute little mouse" (He just can't help himself. He has to give comfort to cute little mice. He'd risk his life to save a mouse in distress.). Henry is a romantic gentleman, a classical knight, he loves, respects women, has a gentle temperament, likes classical music, loves romance, and is considerate to his wife. Like giving your wife a card that says "I love you" on anniversaries, or holding a bouquet of flowers. But Olive thinks her husband Henry is so stupid. His righteous kindness, Christian love, and consistent tenderness towards Denise are so sensational, crooked, old-fashioned, disgusting, and stupidly unbearable. She never took the favor of her husband, and felt disgusted and mocked at the same time. In the hospital robbery scene, the two finally shouted out their innermost words:
Why are you so hateful, Olive?
Because you were too goddamn simple for me, Henry. I should have left you years ago.
Why the hell didn't you then?
I was going to, but he was dead.
(you) wouldn't have lasted two weeks with him. His drinking would have disgusted you.
And you wouldn't have lasted two weeks with your little mouse. She was half your age and dumb as a rock.
Well, aren't I a sap?(fool)
We both are, Henry. We're just both big saps.
It should be pointed out that "mental patients" like Olive are often aware of their meanness, but are powerless and unwilling to change. Olive knows her meanness too well, she told Henry, My husband loved me dearly and I was a horror to him. Facing Henry's tolerance, patience, and perseverance, Olive was not only guilty, but also deeply attached. She replied me too to Henry's I love you more than once. This is not just perfunctory, but sincere, because their love is based on what they know about each other. Or the hospital robbery scene, Henry yelled at Olive, do you think you can run away with that man, that smart man who likes to read poetry and think uniquely, and then you can be happy? You don't even stay together for two weeks and you're bored! Because you simply can't stand his endless drinking. Olive to Henry: Do you think you really like that ignorant and innocent little cute Denise? You can't live together for two weeks at all! She is as stupid as a rock! There is a scene where the son asks the mother, you brought so much misfortune to my childhood, why didn't you run away with your lover? do you love daddy? You don't love him at all. Olive's answer at this time was that nothing happened between me and that person (lover). We all know restraint. What do you know? You don't understand marriage at all, and you are not qualified to evaluate the love between me and your father.
Yes, Olive is in love with Henry, because she knows his kindness deeply, even though Henry's behavior is very stupid in her eyes. Olive is inseparable from Henry, because intelligence is never more captivating than kindness. Facing his dying husband in bed, Olive's monologue is touching:
“She (Louise) said you were the kindest man in the world, which is true. You were born kind, you grew up kind, and then you married a beast and you loved her. You had a son who has grown up complicated, but at least he'll never bludgeon a girl to death. You were endlessly kind to townspeople who came to you for their medicine. You soothed their ills in your clean white coat. You've had a good life, Henry. You have. You can die now, sweetheart. It's all right. I'll be right here. You won't have to do it alone. Love you, Henry. "
A woman from town came to comfort Olive after Henry's death, said My daughter is studying social work, which helps Olive alleviate her pain. She didn't understand that Olive didn't need sympathy and comfort from the public at all. People like Olive are mean, while never expecting mercy, compassion, and care from others (unless from "smart" people who get their approval). Olive responded like this: "I remember your daughter, the student named Andrea. She's not very smart, and she's not very good at math. I'm glad she got a job."
(the woman touching Olive's hand, comforting her) how are you doing?
Just fine (glanced at the hand with disgust)
You know, my daughter, Andrea, she's got a degree in social work now. I told her about everything that happened to you and she said she would be glad to talk to you.
I remember Andrea in my class. Not too bright with the math. Glad she found her calling.
Another interesting point is that depressed people are always attracted to equally depressed people. In the beginning, Olive also found a cheerful and stable girl for his son, who was not like his own. But in the end, the marriage could not last. Little Kevin was taught by the teacher not to look for "crazy ones," "quiet ones," they will torture you to death, especially beware of "the ones that pair your socks", once you are with them, even God can't save you . But growing up, Kevin is still attracted to women who are prone to self-mutilation. Christ also ended up marrying a woman who had similar trauma to himself. By contrast, Olive and Henry's marriage seems to have been accidental. They are completely different types, and it was fate that made them fall in love by chance and then bond together, and then it was a long period of discomfort after marriage. But how many couples are there in the world who are well matched? Inappropriate is the norm. Henry gave Olive unswerving love all his life because of his kindness. Maybe it was this kind of love that made Olive still have a nostalgia for the world after his suicide attempt: It baffles me, this world. I don't want to leave it yet.
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