The Madhouse

Each one of us lives in a world of preassure created by others who expect us to behave and live and grow to become a person in life chiseled in an image so much like them or their expectations.

Khalil Gibran conveys this sentiment so beautifully in his story - The Madhouse.

Only if people would learn to accept us and let us be the way we are, this world of ours would be such a beautiful place to live.

Goes the story ...

It was in the garden of a madhouse that I met a youth with a face pale and lovely and full of wonder. And I set beside him upon the bench , and I said, " Why are you here ?"

And he looked at me in astonishment , and he said ,

" It is an unseemly question, yet I will answer you. My father would make me a reproduction of himself; so also would my uncle. My mother would have me the image of her seafaring husband as the perfect example for me to follow. My brother thinks I should be like him, a fine athlete..... And my teachers also, the doctor of philosophy, and the music- master, and the logical, they too were determined, and each would have me but a reflection of his own face in a mirror.

Therefore I came to this place . I find it more sane here. Atleast, I can be myself."

Then of a sudden he turned to me and he said, "...but tell me, were you also driven to this place by education and good counsel ?"

And I answered , " No, I am a visitor."

And he answered, " Oh , you are one of those who live in the madhouse on the other side of the wall."