He has never liked this name and becomes very angry when it is used. His specialty is car theft, bootlegging and armed robbery. He has already served several years in prison for auto theft and bank robbery charges. Just last year, while being returned to prison from a bank robbery trial, he escaped. That is why he is here in the South. He is seeing me, because the episodes are becoming more often and more severe.
His mother told him that he was always an ill-tempered and spoiled child. Many people say that he is the toughest and most heartless of the gangsters and even other criminals stay away from him. He remembers that even as a young boy he used to have mood swings from being very boisterous and rebellious to sad and even crying, which he had to hide from the gang. Now when he goes into his manic stages, he will run into banks with his machine gun and steal cars and drive erratically through town and to his next town. This high lasts around a week, where he will drink a lot of alcohol and have many sexual affairs.
He says then the worst part comes. He loves the highs, but the depression is horrible. He feels terrible guilt about stealing the
During these periods, which last longer than the higher ones, he is very despondent and suicidal. He believes that may be part of the reason he goes on his rampages, to be killed.
When I saw him yesterday (February 9, 1932), he said that he was driving away from a bank robbery with the police in pursuit when he picked up those three men that escaped from the chain gang. He shot a cow (says he never liked them), which caused the police to have a car accident. The men escaped and then robbed another bank. He said that this time he actually had dynamite attached to his body. He realizes that his manic actions are becoming increasingly worse for others and himself.
A enjoyed O Brother Where Art Thou for several reasons. One had to do with the development of the different personalities of the characters, including Nelson. It was enjoyable to see the Ulysses epic brought to modern times and, of course, the music was great throughout. Although the poverty of the period was portrayed very subtly, it made me feel for the people who went through those terrible times.
References
American Psychiatric Association. Bipolar definition. Website retrieved February 8, 2007 http://www.psychiatryonline.com/
Coen, E. And Deakins, R. O Brother Where Art Thou (2000). Comedy/Adventure. Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2000). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association.
