Human Dignity In David Lynch's The Elephant Man

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

In the story, “Hills Like White Elephants” written by Ernest Hemingway tells a dialogue story of a woman named Jig and the American man who is waiting at the train station for their ride to Madrid. Jig and the American man are having a casual conversation about the scenery that the nearby hills look like white elephants. Then, there conversation turns serious as they talk about their relationship and their future unborn child. In Ernest Hemingway’s story the character’s conversation is important because it represents the lifestyle of a carefree life of an adult, the decisions of their actions, and their unplan future.

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 “On Being a Cripple”, Nancy Mairs, an American poet and essayist, describes her personal battle with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the central nervous system with no known cure. She begins with a personal account of falling into a toilet because she loses control over several motions. Mairs prefers to be called a cripple rather than a disabled or handicapped person, although she acknowledges that this is not the same as others’ preference. She explains her journey from being a young, active child, to losing control of her body and developing a blurred spot in one eye in her late twenties. As her body continues to break down, Mairs tries to stay involved by participating in activities like bridge and

She identifies as “a cripple”, saying “I choose this word to name me.” She states that she recognizes the uncomfortable feeling it inflicts on all people, proposing that “perhaps I want them to wince.” These statements criticize the stigma around disabilities, and their blunt tone emphasizes the benefits of a “straightforward and precise” nature to labels. In this passage from paragraphs two to four, Mairs explains the true meaning of the words (i.e. “disabled”, “handicapped”, and “differently abled”) abled and disabled people use to identify those with disabilities. She continues to discuss these terms and includes her blunt opinion – it is typically against the use of these labels for their lack of “accuracy with which [they] describe [her] condition.” This shows the abled audience why the stigma surrounding disabilities should be removed because they would not understand her perspective as a disabled person without that explanation. On the other hand, her blunt tone and language is used to convince disabled readers to agree with her message: “I refuse to pretend that the only difference between [abled people] and [disabled people] are the various ordinary ones that distinguish any one person from another.” Both of the effects of Mairs’s blunt tone work to achieve her goal of acceptance of disabled people, but they differ in order to be most effective for their targeted

In Nancy Mairs ' "On Being a Cripple," she deliberates the relationship between the English Language, American Society, and her struggle with multiple sclerosis (MS). Mairs criticizes people for wincing at the word "cripple," and using terms like “differently abled,” because they lack reality and accuracy. She equivalents society’s inability to accept crippledness with death, war, sex, sweat, and wrinkles. Through the usage of ethos, pathos, logos and other rhetorical devices, she effectively tells her story and proves that there is power in words, from which she could come to terms with a new fact of her identity, and to accept the incurability of her disease.

In her essay, Mairs describes how society uses different terms to describe people’s appearance such as disabled, handicapped, and cripple. She claims that society’s poor use of language and meaning has resulted in the way society thinks on the terms disabled, handicapped, and cripple. An example of this is when Mairs uses the word cripple as she claims that people wince at the word when they hear it. She says the word makes her appear as a tough customer as she is want to been seen as someone who can face the harsh reality of her condition. Mairs argues “Society is no readier to accept crippledness than to accept death, war, sex, sweat, or wrinkles”(Mairs p.241) which states that society isn’t willing to acknowledge people with disabilities as they are put at a disadvantage. She also states that society doesn’t want to acknowledge the fact that a disability could potentially be worse than death as she uses her own experience to show her audience that the evil of humanity is not only death. She claims that society doesn’t take the issues of disabilities seriously as they treat those with disabilities differently rather than acknowledging them for who they are.

In Nancy Mairs short story, “On Being a Cripple”, she reflects on her life handling her disability of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and how it has changed different aspects of her existence. She defines herself as a cripple despite the negative connotations the word may have. Over the past ten years, Mairs has had her MS slowly progress as her body deteriorates. She sees her life as fairly average, but seemingly small tasks have become difficult to her and has required help from her family. Despite their support, Mairs still fears that people's kindness is out of pity. The stigma around physical disfigurement and being crippled causes added suffering to her life. Although the disease dictates much of her existence,

Human beings have full control over their identities after they have received knowledge and have become shaped from external stimuli. These stimuli include the teaching process of humans which comes through tradition, schooling, and the actions of other humans and the influence of the organisms around them. Andrew Solomon, through “Son,” was able to use his experience of growing up and labeling himself as a gay dyslexic to show how his environment and knowledge had shaped his identity and how it was viewed by others with different identities. In “An Elephant Crackup,” Charles Siebert was able to explain how the other organisms or humans are able to form new identities for elephants over time by shaping them a new environment and having the elephants process it. In “Mind’s Eye,” Oliver Sacks had different case studies of blindness from different people and was able to show how each one experienced their blindness help shape and express their individual identities. The stimuli that becomes processed by a person in the situations, accounts, and studies of these works assist in the role of explaining the formulation of an identity.

In the essays “On Being a Cripple”, written by Nancy Mairs, and “Living Under Circe’s Spell”, written by Matthew Soyster, both authors strive to communicate to the reader what it is like to live with MS. Although both writers have a similar purpose, they both use exceptionally different methods of communicating their experiences with MS. Overall, Mairs’ essay proved to be more effective than Soyster’s, because of her varied use of rhetorical devices that all work together to create an effective argument. On the other hand, Soyster’s essay was less effective because he only relied on pathos to convince the readers of his argument.

Physically incapable of living a normal life, Nancy Mairs writes “On Being A Cripple” and Matthew Soyster writes “Living Under Circe’s Spell,” having both experienced the hardships of a disability. Struggling to form somewhat of a pleasurable life, they both share similarities in their writings. With these similarities, both Soyster and Mairs, attempt to express their newfound challenges in their lives, but, they both compose different ideas in their writings.

Throughout her essay, Mairs is consistent with being blunt and sometimes too straightforward in her word choice that can be affecting readers’ emotions. However, this criticism of society’s perception of MS and its effects elevates the audience’s perception of how they should see reality. For example, Mairs appeals to the reader’s emotions when she bluntly states “I want them to wince. I want them to see me as a tough customer,” causing readers to feel tension towards what her motives are when using the word “cripple” to describe herself. The readers know that the word “cripple” is politically incorrect and is not polite to say to those with complete loss of the use of their limbs. When Mairs bluntly mentions that she is aware of what the readers feel when she writes her passage, wincing and uncomfortable, readers start to feel awestruck because of Mairs’ straightforward character. Readers did not expect her to be overly confident and blunt, causing them to identify Mairs as a resilient patient of MS, and starting to understand that they should not feel hurt about Mairs’ diction and ironic humor towards them. Also, Mairs’ specific diction such as “swagger” and the phrase “the great race of life,” appeals to readers’ sense of humor due to the metaphorical meanings of her phrases. Although a cripple cannot move, Mairs’ sarcastic terms in which they describe people who have the ability to

She takes a comical approach when examining the idea of the word “cripple” when giving her experiences throughout the paper. In the very first paragraph of the essay Mairs says, “… landing fully clothed on the toilet seat with my legs splayed in front of me: the old beetle-on-it’s-back routine” (page 1). Society has put a negative connotation behind the word “cripple.” It largely comes off as an offense towards someone with a physical incapability, however Mairs has embraced the word because it is “straightforward and precise” (Mairs page 1). She outcasts herself from the rest of society in that she finds other words: “disabled”, handicapped”, and especially “differently abled” slightly offensive because they take away from her humanity. In other words, these works make her feel like she is not accepted like the rest of the fully, physically functioning people in society because people feel that they must baby those who are handicapped as though they are not able to do any simple task.

Nancy Mairs in her passage introduces the American society while including her life struggle with multiple sclerosis. Mairs demonstrates confidence of the condition with which she lives in and her calling herself a “cripple”. Her tolerance of this cruel reality guides her essay through a series of arguments as she utilizes pathos and others to communicate her opinion and feelings.

The point of view in “Harrison Bergeron” is third person with limited insight. The focal character is George Bergeron, the titular character’s father. The story is written to show two settings: the living room of George and Hazel Bergeron, and the scene they are watching on their television. This point of view helps to develop the theme by showing what we assume to be an average couple in a futuristic setting, and by establishing a societal norm for the dystopian setting. The mundane point of view contrasts nicely with the very outrageous personality of Harrison Bergeron and his theatrical antics. This point of view also gives the reader a relatively objective look into the conflict between Harrison and the United States Handicapper General. The use of George as the focal character gives the reader insight into the mind of a man who wears a mental and a physical handicap. This allows the reader to see into George’s thoughts and how they process with the mental handicap in place, “every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some sharp noise to keep people like George from taking advantage of their