Example Of Creative Writing On The Definition Of Sorrow

The word “Sorrow” is often confined by definition to a feeling of intense emotion that can come as a result of many different circumstances. In individual feels sorrow, or feels sorry for something they have done, something that has happened, or someone they know, and that is where the definition ends. However, there are many ways that sorrow can be defined. It is true that the word should be defined by its feeling, but it should also be defined based on an individual’s actions and the way they live their lives. Sorrow can also be defined by the state of mind in which one lives their lives.
The typical definition of the word sorrow marks it as an emotion, which is accurate. Sorrow is an intense emotion one feels, normally when something negative takes place. Felt most poignantly in the heart, and the gut, sorrow is a difficult emotion to describe verbally, other than to say it can cut like a knife. It is felt for several different reasons. Somebody close to the person may pass away. Usually, when somebody close to an individual passes away, the period after is characterized by a time filled with mourning and sorrow. Other circumstances characterized by sorrow may include an individual who has fallen on difficult financial times. They may lose their automobile and their home, forcing them to beg for money on street corners. It is realistic for a person living in these circumstances to begin feeling the emotion of sorrow because there is nothing happy about living on the streets. The death of a loved one may also cause sorrow because it is difficult to acclimate to life without a close friend or family member, especially when the death is abrupt. The individual may perpetrate a hateful action upon somebody else and feel sorrow because of what he or she have done. Regardless of the circumstances that cause it, sorrow can be defined as an emotion.
Though sorrow is best known as an emotion, it can also be defined as a manifestation of a set of actions. We can deduce this because many people express themselves through their actions. For example, if somebody is happy, they may pick wildflowers during a walk and bring them to a loved one, thereby expressing their happiness. If one is excited, they may jump up and down or shout loudly about whatever has them excited. Many physical actions can be used to show excitement. Each of these examples show a manifestation of emotions in physical actions, as well as a definition of the assigned emotion. Similarly, many actions can be used to define sorrow. For instance, if a person secludes themselves from other people, or avoids conversation, that could be interpreted as sorrow. Sorrow often manifest itself into the desire to be alone, therefore, many people who actively seek isolation could be seen as people who feel sorrow. Sorrow may also be defined in people who attempt to make up for past misdeeds. Individuals often feel sorrow for wronging those around them; if an attempt is made to make up for something the individual has done wrong, it could be defined as sorrow, and an attempt to diminish said sorrow. The physical act of mourning, i.e. crying, laying flowers at a grave, grieving over the dead, may also be defined as sorrow. Sorrow often accompanies the death of loved ones. The death of loved ones is normally followed by mourning. In relation, mourning can be regarded as a physical manifestation of sorrow.
While the archetypal definition of sorrow as an emotion, and the more modern definition of sorrow as a physical manifestation are both true, another definition remains. Sorrow can also be defined as a state of mind. Many would consider an emotion and a state of mind to be too similar, if not exactly the same, but this is not the case. An emotion passes more quickly, while a state of mind lingers, sometimes becoming a way of life. For example, Emily Dickinson, one of the greatest poets in literary history, arguably had a state of mind defined by sorrow. Her poetry was magnificent, but sorrowful nonetheless. Many of her poems were about death, loss, and lovers torn apart. These poems were not a phase in her writing; the sorrow she experienced was not a brief emotional period she experienced as a girl (emotional definition), nor was it mourning period she would experience after a death (physical manifestation). Dickinson allowed the sorrow to consume her until it became how she lived. Essentially, sorrow became what defined her until she became the definition for sorrow. Through this example we see that a state of mind and an emotion are different. A state of mind is far more powerful than an emotion. When one was has a state of mind entrenched in sorrow, they are sometimes helpless against it because it becomes them. Not only does it manifest itself within their actions, but it becomes their life.
In sum, normally there is only one way to define the word, “sorrow.” It is an intense emotion, felt by several degrees of difference and under many circumstances. However, if one analyzes the emotion more thoroughly, they will find this small definition does not do the word proper justice. Sorrow can also be defined by the many physical manifestations where it can be found. Individuals who feel sorrow often let the emotion bleed into their actions, letting it define what they do. Furthermore, the action can be defined as a state of mind, as we have seen in unfortunate cases like that of Emily Dickinson. Some individuals allow sorrow to infiltrate their minds so fully that it engulfs them. They are trapped; sorrow begins to define them, and in doing so can be defined as a state of mind instead of just a mere emotion. While sorrow is indeed an emotion, like many emotions, it is important to recognize its full range of definition and recognize how far it can reach into our lives.