Doc’s alcohol
problem was brought on by stage fright resulting in public humiliation. Being
booed off stage in Berlin ruined Doc’s confidence in his playing ability. He
now couldn’t even play the part he messed up on in private. Losing what he had
worked so hard for led to depression. In an attempt to cope with the
depression, Doc started drinking. He tried to silence the “howling wolves in
his head”, which was actually the booing from the Berlin audience, not from
alcohol itself. When the sergeant arresting Doc poured whisky over the piano,
Doc wasn’t just upset because the whiskey would damage the instrument. Before
it was a mental problem, but now alcohol was physically affecting Doc. Despite
this, Doc turns to alcohol one more time. Doc drinks some whiskey to silence
the wolves in his head so he can successfully perform the full Beethoven
symphony. Doc doesn’t drink enough so that he becomes intoxicated. He used
alcohol to calm his nerves so much that even just a taste gave him his
confidence. After this, Doc no longer needed alcohol. His success empowered him
to overcome stage fright in the future.
Alcohol
typically further ruins people’s lives, but Doc was able to use it to support
himself. Without it, he would fall into despair any time he tried to play
piano. Alcohol makes people forget their troubles. Most people use this effect
of alcohol so that they can ignore and run away from their problem. Doc used
alcohol to face his problem head on, without being impeded by his past
mistakes.
No comments:
Post a Comment