Self-Destructive Behavior

One of the overriding themes of the book is the self-destructive behavior of Eliot and Sylvia Rosewater. The reader is introduced to Eliot's antics early on in the book, which is one of the reasons why Mushari is looking for documented evidence to unseat him from the presidency of the Foundation.

Eliot is not able to obtain help for his problem. His psychoanalyst quits after a year and says he is incurable. When Sylvia has a mental collapse, she is hospitalized in Indianapolis, where the doctor writes a paper calling both Sylvia and Eliot sick. Sylvia files for divorce on the advice of her doctor in Switzerland.

Eliot's frequent disappearances and his drinking are documented by detectives working for the Foundation's law firm. His erratic behavior includes things like calling out comments to the opera singers to stop singing to save oxygen, which indicates he isn't able...