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Abstract: 

Literature is often used in a way that can represent society’s values as well as change social values, especially towards specific ideas or individuals. Men’s mental illness is commonly depicted in classical literature, but it is unknown the extent to which social gender expectations influence these depictions and character's experiences. In this study, five well known books from the 19th through 20th centuries were read exploring this gap. The quotes’ emotional severities were collected during the reading process, while the themes and frequencies of depictions were identified once all the data had been collected and compared. It was found that the 19th century hosted more dramatic and physical displays of emotion, while the 20th century hosted more themes of private emotional experiences. With these findings, the relationship between literature and society could shift to become more friendly towards the topic of men’s mental health, possibly decreasing the pressure placed on men to abide by gendered expectations.