Handwriting and Emotions: A Study of Rosamond Jacob's Diaries

Handwriting is a form of self-expression that many learn at a young age. Each person's handwriting is unique and can change as they get older. This article looks into how handwriting changes over time and how those changes might relate to the feelings of the person writing, particularly focusing on the diary entries of a woman named Rosamond Jacob.

#The Art of Journaling

Journaling has been a way for individuals to record their daily experiences and special moments for centuries. Journals reveal personal insights and shed light on the habits and lifestyles of people from different periods. Rosamond Jacob's Diaries offer a glimpse into life in Ireland around 100 years ago, detailing both political and daily life. Her entries are well-preserved and provide important context about the roles women played in shaping Ireland's history.

#Changes in Handwriting

As people age, their handwriting tends to evolve slowly. Numerous studies have examined how handwriting can reveal much about the writer's state of mind. Earlier research has shown that mood can influence handwriting styles-people feeling down might write differently than those in a good mood. We plan to look closely at Rosamond Jacob's diary entries and see if we can notice any changes in her handwriting and how these changes might connect to her emotions and the topics she was writing about.

#Methods of Analysis

To analyze the diaries, we employ several techniques. We start by digitizing the handwritten entries into images. Then, we use technology to identify and extract the handwritten text. After transforming the handwriting into a format we can analyze, we apply various methods to measure the differences in her handwriting over time, such as how her letters slant or how much space is between lines. We also analyze her writing along with the sentiments expressed in her words to see if there is a connection between how she writes and how she feels.

#Understanding the Handwriting

The focus of our study is on diary entries from Rosamond Jacob. By examining the images of her handwriting over several years, we can compare how her writing style changed. We can also analyze whether her handwriting differs when she writes about various topics or moods. The idea is to see if patterns emerge that show us her emotional state at different times through her writing style.

#The Process of Analysis

The analysis begins with obtaining images of Jacob's diaries, which are kept in a digitized format. Each diary entry is carefully processed to extract clear handwriting snippets for further examination. This involves adjusting the images to enhance clarity, removing any noise, and isolating the handwritten words we want to study. Once we have a clean set of word images, we can compare them and look for differences in how they appear over time.

#Measuring Similarities in Handwriting

To compare handwriting, we use several techniques. One common method is called Mean Squared Error (MSE), which measures how different two images are based on pixel values. Another method is the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), which looks at broader image features rather than specific pixels. There's also Dynamic Time Warping (DTW), which is useful for measuring similarities between sequences of varying lengths. By applying these methods, we can discover handwriting trends in different diary entries.

#The Role of Sentiment Analysis

Alongside handwriting analysis, we assess the feelings expressed in Jacob's writings. We can break down her text into components that reveal whether the emotions conveyed are positive, negative, or neutral. To do this, we utilize a system that assigns sentiment scores to words, helping us to interpret the overall mood of her diary entries. This sentiment analysis allows us to see if changes in handwriting correlate with shifts in emotional expression.

#Focusing on Key People and Events

Another aspect we wish to explore is the impact of specific people or events on Jacob's writing. We can analyze entries where she mentions significant figures or experiences to see how those references affect her handwriting and mood. For instance, we may look at entries where she talks about her friend Dorothy to understand if her sentiments towards this person can be seen in her handwriting style.

#The Findings

The findings from our analysis will reveal whether Rosamond Jacob’s handwriting patterns reflect her emotional state and how they change over time. We hope to identify clear connections between her mood and the way she writes. The insights gained from this research can illuminate not only her personal history but also the broader social and political contexts of her time.

#Conclusion

Through this research, we aim to bridge the gap between handwriting and emotions. By investigating how Rosamond Jacob's handwriting evolved alongside her feelings, we contribute to a better understanding of the connections between our writing and our Emotional States. This work highlights the significance of personal diaries in capturing the nuances of human experience over time.