One of the most beautifully written, most descriptive pieces ever on the subject of depression comes in Hamlet Act 2, Scene 2 - I spare repeating the content and context of the Scene for those who know their Shakespeare, anyone else can see the play or read it if they want.
It was also used to great effect as the final speech in the brilliant, hilarious and superlative 1987 film, “Withnail & I,” by Bruce Robinson, and starring Richard.E.Grant and Paul McGann. Anyone who hasn’t seen this film has missed something of rare quality, IMVHO.
So the lines quoted below, as spoken by Hamlet in the eponymous play, are the (very slightly truncated) version as used to such great effect in the final scene of “Withnail.”
Very few people have described the terrible dichotomy of the conscious realization of depression so superbly.
I have of late—but wherefore
I know not—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of
exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my
disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to
me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy,
the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging firmament,
this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why,
it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent
congregation of vapors. What a piece of work is a man!
How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties,
in form and moving how express and admirable,
in action how like an angel, in apprehension how like
a god! The beauty of the world, the paragon of animals!
And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man
delights not me—no, nor woman neither, no nor woman neither…..
