Connection to Lit

The Shock of the Fall is very similar to The Catcher in the Rye because in both of the novels, the main characters struggles with mental issues and temporarily lives on their own. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield struggles with his mental issues and undergoes mental treatment. He fails out of many schools and ends up living in New York alone one his way to his new school. This novel is about his ventures alone through the city and the realization that he must grow up and become responsible for his actions. The Shock of the Fall is very similar to this novel because Matthew also struggles with a mental disorder and receives treatment at a mental hospital. Like Holden, Matthew lives alone and learns about the struggles that come with an independent life. Matthew and Holden are both trouble makers and find that their lives must become worse before they will become better. Both of these stories capture how the main characters cope with who they are and how they will fit back into society.

  One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest is similar to this novel because it deals with the pains associated with mental disorders and explores the reality of mental institutions. Both these novels allow the readers to sympathize with the patients in the hospitals. In One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Bromden tricks the aids about taking the medication and when he doesn’t take his medication, he has nightmares about the ward becoming a combine. In One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, McMurphy starts trouble with others patients by trying to make them rebel and have Nurse Ratched loss control. However, McMurphy quickly learns how the ward is run and becomes frightened by what could happen to him. The Shock of the Fall is similar to One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest because Matthew also is put into a mental hospital. Like McMurphy, Matthew causes trouble around the ward when he paints a portrait of another patient in her room and when he makes too much noise in the halls. Like Bromden, Matthew tricks the aids about taking his medication and has nightmares but unlike Bromden, Matthew’s nightmares are about his dead brother.