Chapter 8 Summary

Despite recommendations for shock treatments, Styron managed to avoid this disruptive procedure because he began to improve almost immediately. During the author's seven-week stay in the hospital, he trudged through group therapy, art therapy and many hours watching inane television shows. By early February, when Styron was released, he felt more like full person again and less of a shell and was able once more to sleep peacefully with only pleasant dreams.

Chapter 8 Analysis

Styron's major life-crisis has been averted and the process of his road back to recovery is alluded to briefly but it is clear that much internal work was done and great strength of character brought the author back from the brink of despair and his own demise.