Mapping Mental Illness: A Kleinmanian Reading of Jerry Pinto’s Em and the Big Hoom
Authors :Ms. Poorna Pushkala A and Dr. Nibu Thomson
Abstract
Abstract: This paper analyses Jerry Pinto’s novel Em and the Big Hoom through Arthur Kleinman’s concept of illness, which distinguishes between the biomedical understanding of disease and the lived experience of illness shaped by social, cultural, and emotional factors. The novel portrays the life of Em, a bipolar disorder victim, through the narration of
her son. It illustrates how mental illness is not just an individual affliction but is embedded in familial relationships and societal perceptions of madness. By applying Arthur Kleinman’s concepts on illness vs disease and explanatory models, this study explores how different characters interpret and respond to Em’s condition, revealing the gaps between medical diagnosis and personal suffering. By bridging literature and medical anthropology, this analysis highlights the importance of narrative in shaping our perceptions of mental illness and the need for holistic, culturally sensitive mental healthcare.
Keywords: Bipolar disorder, illness, disease, explanatory methods, family
