The theme of Hugh Garner’s “The Sound of Hollyhocks” concerns one of Canada’s most serious social problems. The theme suggests how condescension and discrimination can have devastating effects on the people around us. The story is set in Pinehills Clinic where alcoholics and psychotics are placed to recover. Wilf Armstrong, an alcoholic at the clinic, ends up with “Rock Hudson”, who is a psychotic at the hospital, as his roommate. “Rock Hudson” was the nickname given to William Cornish Ranson by some of the other alcoholics. Rock was forced into mental illness by his mother because his w