Today's discussion in class on "He" really stuck with me. I realize now that even though I wrote a blog on "He" I was really avoiding the things that stuck out to me. I have been wondering why talking about this story puts conversation at a stand still, and I think the conclusion that I have come to (for me personally) is that I am afraid that if I were in the same situation, I would do what the family does to Him. I believe that I wouldn't, and I would definitely pray that I wouldn't, but they probably never thought they were doing anything wrong. His mother probably convinced herself that she was treating him well, that she was a loving mother. I think she had to have done this; otherwise, she probably wouldn't have been able to live with herself. Or at least, I don't think I could live with myself if I was intentionally neglecting a child.
And of course I was avoiding talking (no, I avoided even thinking) about the fact that He is handicapped. I am not sure why this is exactly. Does it truly make me that uncomfortable? I can't imagine that it would because I have a nephew with down syndrome, and I am fine when I around him. We play games and have fun together. Of course, it was hard when I first met him (he's actually my husband's brother's son...figure that out!), but it took little to no time to see him as just another person.
I think the reason it was hard to connect with this story on a personal level is just what Sara said. We don't really know Him, so we don't know how to relate to Him. I will say that Porter does a great job of addressing issues in her stories that are so hard to talk about. Could it be that writing things down is easier than saying them out loud? (hence why I'm writing this in a blog instead of saying it in class) I think so, perhaps this is why we can have more "revolutionary" literature than speeches. It's so much easier to write it because you can revise it to say what you want to say, and also you don't have to look into the eyes of people as you say these things. You don't have to worry that someone is judging you. But of course, this whole question of written versus spoken is a completely different point.
Tags: Chelsea Oaks, He, Porter, reflective, tough issues
1 Comment:
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- Neena said...
January 30, 2008 at 3:41 PMI think the thing that bothered me most about this story was that Mrs. Whipple (followed by her family) believes "Simon" has no feelings at all. Convenient isn't it. Then she can talk about him and treat him however she would like, he'll be fine. The neglect becomes emotional because although she claims his physical needs are being met (and of course they are not always) his emotional needs are nonexistant for her. But isn't that what love is? Give and take. We meet the emotional needs of the ones we love and they meet ours and it is in no way a burden, but a binding force. We become closer and understand each other because of it. Look what she is denying herself as well as what she is denying him all because, what? She's embarrassed? Ashamed? Uncomfortable? I say: "get over it, your his mother." I think this story can be understandable because we are outsiders, like you said, but realistically, it seems strange to me to be so cold.