Blind characters create a tricky subject when analyzing
literature. Figuring out exactly what their disability adds to the story can
mean a variety of things. Foster primarily explains the chapter using an
example from Oedipus Rex, and Foster
illustrates how Oedipus blinds himself once he learns the truth about his life.
Another character, Tiresias, in Oedipus
Rex serves as a blind prophet in the story. After examining many stories, one
can begin to notice a pattern in which parallels reality, truth, and
understanding with blindness.
The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green is
one teen novel that has made its way from book to screen. In the novel, Isaac,
a friend of main characters Augusta and Hazel, becomes blind after having a
procedure to remove cancer from his eyes. The main characters in the novel
either have cancer or have had cancer in the past. Since the characters live in
a negative environment, it is hard to keep an optimistic outlook. Isaac,
however, always reminds his friends to look on the bright side. Despite his
disability Isaac’s character demonstrates a deeper understanding of the value
of life.
Another
favorite teen book series and TV show Pretty
Little Liars, includes a girl, Jenna, who lost her sign in a terrible
accident. Throughout the series most girls fear Jenna because she seems to know
everyone’s secrets. Her sightlessness follows the pattern of blind characters
having knowledge that surpasses others.
In one novel Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements, the main character, Bobby,
wakes up invisible. Because of his condition, he takes the chance to walk
around town without being seen. During his adventures he wonders into a library
where he meets Alicia, a blind girl. Because Alicia is blind, she doesn’t realize
Bobby in invisible, and the two converse with each other. Alicia gives Bobby a
new perspective on life. Prior to meeting Alicia, Bobby always felt invisible,
even before he became physically invisible. After the characters conversation
Bobby realized just how fortunate he was and how true friendship is more
valuable then being noticed by many. Alicia, the blind character, taught Bobby
truth and wisdom; she expressed how literature uses blind characters give other
a new outlook.
As I began
thinking of other places blind characters appear I noticed a pattern of
characters going temporarily blind. Temporary blindness seems different then
being permanently blind. There is a possibility that the author made the
character blind for a short period of time to communicate the character’s
heightened truth, but avoid having an impaired character for the entire plot.
Piggy from Lord of the Flies is a
character who has conditions to his blindness, he is only considered blind
without his glasses.
In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Piggy is hindered by his
vision; without his glasses his is ultimately blind. Piggy’s disability
actually adds to the story in a number of ways. Since the boys are stranded on
an island, Piggy’s glasses are the key to fire and eventually rescue.
Additionally Piggy’s disability gives more information about the character and
purpose Piggy has to the story. Throughout the novel, Piggy stresses to the
other boys the importance of working together to get found, and most time he
reminds the other boys of the bigger picture. Piggy’s blindness represents his
ability to “see” past the problems on the island. Again a blind character communicates
something a certain knowledge that others in the story fail to have.
Noticing a
blind character amidst seeing characters is the easy part; analyzing how they
contribute to the story can be more difficult. Reading the chapter has helped
me think more about literatures deeper meaning. On the surface one can notice
something like a blind character, but it is more important for one to understand
how characters fill their purpose in the plot.
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