The Madness of Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was born in Germany on June 8, 1810. During his youth, his father encouraged him to study music and literature. He acquired a love for both, though music was his passion. Unfortunately, his father died when he was only sixteen-years-old. Around the same time, Robert’s sister-Emilie-committed suicide. Mrs. Schumann was unable to care for Robert and so gave him over to the care of a family friend. This family friend sent Robert off to law school, but Robert did not have any interest in it. He asked his mother to allow him to study music exclusively and he was eventually given that right.

Robert Schumann was composing music by the age of seven. However, his dream was to become a piano virtuoso. That dream would not be realized. At some point during the time he was training on the piano, Robert permanently injured one of his fingers. He did not give up on his love of music; he became a romantic composer and music critic. He was a brilliant composer, but madness eventually caught up with him. Whether it was syphilis or his genes that did it is unknown. However, it is certain that something caused Schumann to lose his mind.

Problems with Robert Schumann’s mental and physical health became very apparent in the 1840s. He began displaying symptoms of depression that were followed by bouts of increased productivity. In 1844, Schumann was plagued by physical maladies, such as temporary blindness and difficulty walking. This may have fueled his depression. However, he continued composing when he was able. He wrote critiques of music and even taught music for a time. However, his teaching stints never lasted long due to his health problems.

Around the same time that Robert was having these health problems, he began having hallucinations, which would plague him off and on for the rest of his life. His hallucinations were auditory in nature. They are also said to have been musical, at times evil, at times good. Schumann also suffered from paranoid delusions. His wife-Clara-, who was a very talented pianist, is said to have been unsympathetic and harried by the situation. However, theirs was a marriage based on love and they did have seven children together, despite Robert’s illness.

From that time until around 1852, Robert Schumann was able to function relatively well for periods of time in-between his bouts of illness. After that time, he was rarely well. His wife tried to care for him for about six months before it became clear, even to Robert, that he needed to enter an asylum. He had become suicidal like his sister. He spent roughly two years in the asylum before he died. The day was July 29, 1856. Robert Schumann was 46-years-old.

Many people have speculated about the cause of Robert Schumann’s maladies. Some have attributed it to syphilis. Others have said that it is very likely that mental illness simply ran in Robert’s family. He displayed signs of several mental disorders, the most likely of which being schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. One thing is certain. Despite his obvious handicaps, Robert Schumann was an extremely talented romantic composer. He completed four symphonies, numerous piano works and other works during his lifetime that have not been forgotten in the nearly two-hundred years since he composed them.

Sources

Robert Schumann, retrieved 5/31/10, classical.net/music/comp.1st/schumann.php

Robert Schumann’s contributions to the genetics of psychosis, retrieved 5/31/10, bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/pdf_extract/196/4/325