Agoraphobia in "Hands"

The term that I researched was Agoraphobia. It can be defined as an intense fear of places or situations that might cause one to feel panicked and have emotions of being trapped, embarrassed, or helpless. This can also mean fearing an actual or anticipated situation as well (Mayo Clinic).  This anxiety can range from a fear of using public transportation to a fear of leaving the house due to the thought of being attacked. It can be self-treated over time but can be as crippling as any other anxiety or fear a person can have.

            I think that a short from Winesburg, Ohio that has a lot of parallels with is the short “Hands.” Throughout, Wing Biddlebaum is described as being very sort of shady or flighty, often staying in his home and only leaving when completely necessary. I would argue he probably also has a fear of going into public so much because of how he was beaten and kicked out of his old town after being accused of molestation. So because of this, he has a fear not only of a similar situation happening again but possibly even a more general fear of being put under a microscope and judged and critiqued again as he was in the last town he lived in. George Willard does help alleviate Biddlebaum’s phobias which is also noted as how most people often cope with their fears related to Agoraphobia.

Citation:

Definition: “Agoraphobia.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 Mar. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/agoraphobia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355987.