Analysis Of Atwood's Story 'Lusus Naturae'

In Nancy Mairs’ article for The New York Times, “Disability”, published in 1987, she expresses her distaste with the media's representation of handicapped people. Mairs, who struggled with multiple sclerosis herself, clearly and sharply conveys this disgust by stating, “I’m not, for instance, Ms. MS, a walking, talking embodiment of a chronic incurable degenerative disease.” (Mairs 13), and that she is actually, “the advertisers’ dream: Ms. Great American Consumer. And yet the advertisers, who determine nowadays who will get represented publicly and who will not, deny the existence of me and my kind absolutely”(Mairs 14). Mairs is greatly upset that disabled people are defined by their disabilities and, therefore, are underrepresented in public media. This might lead to one asking themselves, but why are they? And the answer, according to Mairs, is quite simple, “To depict disabled people in the ordinary activities of daily life is to admit that there is something ordinary about disability itself, that it may enter anybody’s life”(Mairs 14). Mairs concludes by pointing out how this effacement could have dangerous consequences for both disabled people and, as she called everyone else, TAPs (Temporarily Abled Persons) alike. Treating disabilities as an abnormal characteristic (as opposed to viewing them “as a normal characteristic, one that complicates but does not ruin human existence” (Mairs 15)) can cause one of these repercussions, as it makes the

Disability is a definition of a physical or mental condition which impacts on a person’s movements, activities and senses. People with disabilities were informed of bias and disadvantages compared to an ordinary person. There are many biases and prejudices contributed to the discrimination of individuals with a disability. Partly because of social connotations the disabled people are useless, cannot work. In fact, these extraordinary people always bring and do incredible things. They not only overcome their grim fate, but also bring good things to life, especially those who are perfectly considering better than an ordinary person, they are not aware of the capacity of individuals disabilities with them characteristics such as loyalty, dedication, and hard work.

In the book, The Short Bus, Jonathan Mooney’s thesis is that there is more to people than their disabilities, it is not restricting nor is it shameful but infact it is beautiful in its own way. With a plan to travel the United States, Mooney decides to travel in a Short bus with intentions of collecting experiences from people who have overcome--or not overcome--being labeled disabled or abnormal. In this Mooney reinvents this concept that normal people suck; that a simple small message of “you’re not normal” could have a destructive and deteriorating effect. With an idea of what disabilities are, Mooney’s trip gives light to disabilities even he was not prepared to face, that he feared.

In a time never given, a young girl suffers from Porphyria, and goes through a journey of self-discovery and acceptance in the short story, Lusus Naturae by Margaret Atwood. The reader never learns the narrator's name, and she is only known as Lusus Naturae, which translates into freak of nature. Diagnosed by a foreign doctor, the young girl seems to be forever cursed and becomes a burden to her family and shame to her village. Throughout the story, Atwood uses different forms of figurative language-such as symbolism and irony- and the first person narrative to portray the theme of how self-discovery can be an independent, and lifelong journey.

This oppressive nature results in an inferiority complex being developed by the narrator. The narrator is unable to express her opinion

This essay highlights and discusses models of disability reflected in two separate articles (Appendices A and B). I will identify the models of disability they represent. Both have been recently featured in the Guardian newspaper and are stories on disabled people.

For instance, both Flowers for Algernon and Awakenings include themes towards the treatment and respect of those living with mental and physical disabilities. In Flowers for Algernon, Charlie was unknowingly used as a punchline by his supposed friends and colleagues at the bakery, merely because he was mentally challenged and the incompetence that resulted from this made others feel superior to him. Following the surgery and the increase of Charlie’s intelligence, the doctors insinuated that he wasn’t considered a human being prior to the experiment. They implied that those with impaired mental abilities are not individuals capable of independent thought and feeling, which is disproved through Charlie’s progress reports. Similarly, Awakenings sheds light on the treatment of those who have physical challenges, in the manner that the nurses and doctors treated the patients before the medicine was administered. They are visibly reluctant to tend to the patients, and attempt to avoid work with television shows because they lack compassion and understanding towards their conditions. The staff thought efforts to help them were futile due to their catatonic states, therefore neglecting them, treating them like obligations rather than individuals. However, both stories show that in spite of their circumstances, those with disabilities are not lesser people and are deserving of compassion and respect just as others are; though they are often ill-treated and misunderstood.

Those with disabilities have to accept their lives as being deprived of some joyful instances that may never happen. Individuals with handicaps may not be able to be active with their (or other’s) children, dream jobs may not be within grasp, memories may not be accessible while other’s take them for granted and shun those who desire that which they’ve already acquired (“People With Disabilities”). Provided, life is hard with a disability but additionally, those with handicaps must suffer isolation which is unfavorable in multiple ways. With isolation the person has no help, no support, no companionship, and feel ultimately rejected shutting them down in a social manner (“People With Disabilities”).

Would it not be great, if the world had no faults? If everyone was born healthy, with no disabilities? Sadly, this not our reality. Life is a like a snow globe; sometimes it gets turned upside down. Sometimes it is beautiful, but it is fragile. James Hurst, the author of the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”, reveals this reality by creating a character who is disabled. He characterizes Doodle by using diction and figurative language to describe him as sickly, abnormal, and fragile.

seeing herself as a lesser being due to her handicap, to a blossoming young woman who

James Hurst uses indirect and direct characterization in the short story “The Scarlet Ibis,” to reveal how people with physical and mental disabilities were treated and perceived, in a cruel and unforgiving way during the time period of this story. For example, Doodle, one of the main characters in “The scarlet Ibis” is terrified in his coffin that he was to be buried in, while his brother, our narrator finds joy in his fright. “Don’t leave me, Brother,” he cried, and leaned toward the coffin.” In this time period must people with disabilities need to have special care and attention, but in “The Scarlet Ibis” the narrator treats Doodle worse than a normal human being. By forcing Doodle to touch his own coffin he was going to be buried

Critical Disability Theory examines of the representations of people with disabilities throughout literature

In this essay I will attempt to explain people’s attitudes towards the person with disability, also about the causes due to which our society discriminates against them. Few of these reasons are stereotyping, psychological discomfort, lack of accommodation, paternalization & pity.

Then for the second sub-claim about ideological cruelty, I will refer to Stella Young’s speech and Schwartz’s analysis about stereotypes to propose that the cultural context cruelly constructs disabled people based on assumptions. Also, The cinema of isolation written by Norden provides evidence to interpret cruelty within the cultural context. Integrating these two sub-claims, I am going to use Ward’s mouse morality to discuss the structure and confusing frames created in this film which may lead to future cruelty and

Despite the response to disability varying greatly between times, places and cultures (Barnes, 2012), there is no doubt that disability has an immeasurable impact on people’s lives. Disability affects an individual’s identity and their ability to work, socialise and be involved in society. In this essay I will discuss how approaches to disability have changed over time, specifically how approaches to disability have developed in recent centuries. I will start by discussing the medical model before moving on to its direct challenge in the social model. Finally I will discuss responses to the social model, in particular the biopsychosocial model.