A Mind in Collapse: A Clinical-Literary Approach to Hysterical Symptoms in Man Gone Down

Abstract

Michael Thomas's Man Gone Down paints a vivid psychological portrait of an unknown African American main character as he attempts to earn money, keep his family together, and maintain his dignity over a perilous four-day period. The novel employs a narrative style that conveys anxiety, a fragmented sense of self and existential dread. It also has symptoms of hysteria, such as major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that come from racial trauma and childhood neglect. Using the DSM-5 criteria, this study looks at the main character's mental decline and strength, focusing on his inner struggle, cognitive distortions, and coping techniques. This research connects literary analysis with psychiatric assessment by putting Man Gone Down in a clinical context. It shows how institutional racism, economic instability, and a broken sense of self show up as clinical symptoms in modern African American literature. The novel serves as a critique of culture and a psychiatric case study, demonstrating the interconnectedness of race, mental health, and American identity.