- March 13, 2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Term paper writing
A boy of 15 years old has just become blind because of the accident, which caused severe injury that led to the total blindness of the boy. The boy is suffering a lot from his current position because, before the accident, he led an active lifestyle, he practiced sport, played in the school theatre and expected to make a successful career as an actor or director in the future. However, the severe injury has changed his entire life and, at the moment, he is suffering from the dramatic change that has occurred in his life and changed his life forever. He has no hope for recovery and he needs the rehabilitation. This particular night he falls asleep and travels throughout the time and countries to communicate with different blind people, who had reached a tremendous success in their time and had proved to be very successful, in spite of their blindness. At the same time, while communicating with these great blinds, the boy learns their experience and compares it to that of his own. The boy is still able to see in his dream. In such a way, he learns new experience of living in the world of blindness.
The first person the boy encounters in his dream is Homer, an outstanding ancient Greek poet:
The boy walks down the road and encounters an old blind man, seating next to the road. Te boy stops at the old man, who is apparently thinking of something carefully. The boy sees that the man is blind and he is eager to talk to him
Boy: Hi! Would you mind talking to me a little bit?
Homer: Good day, young man! There’s always a good time to talk to a good man, I feel you’re a good man, so, let’s talk. I feel you wish to ask me something. Don’t hesitate and ask me.
B: Well, frankly speaking yes, I’d like to ask you a question. I see you can’t see and I guess it’s a great problem for you. How do you live up with it because you don’t look like the unhappiest man in the world?
H: I used to regret of my blindness in the past, when I just grew blind, but, in the course of time, I grew accustomed to my impairment and now I see no troubles that I can’t see as other people do. However, sometimes I can see more than they do.
B: How could it be?
H: Well, I just use my head and I think, I feel, and I understand what other people cannot understand because they understand just what they see, while I understand what I feel.
B: And don’t you regret that you have lost your vision?
H: The fates have given mankind a patient soul. So, I don’t regret about it. Gods did it to me and I’m a mere man, who cannot resist to the will of gods.
B: And how can you live being blind. I see you’re a lone here but still you feel quite comfortable as I see?
H: You will certainly not be able to take the lead in all things yourself, for to one man a god has given deeds of war, and to another the dance, to another lyre and song, and in another wide-sounding Zeus puts a good mind. So, I can’t do all by myself but people and gods help me and I feel good.
B: and how do you perceive your blindness?
H: As the matter of fact, it’s a sort of battle for me. I would say, young man, that even when someone battles hard, there is an equal portion for one who lingers behind, and in the same honor are held both the coward and the brave man; the idle man and he who has done much meet death alike. So, you should never give up and count on other people, who can help you and use your head to keep your internal eyes always open wide.
The boy travels to another place and another time. Now, he encounters Milton, who is just sitting in the park and creating one of his poems. He declares the poem, searches for better wording. The boy sees that he is blind and cannot keep from asking him the same question as he asked Homer
Boy: Hi, Sir, I’d like to ask you a question. I see you can’t see and I guess it’s a great problem for you. How do you live up with it?
Milton: Well, it’s never a problem for me as long as I keep al in my mind. In fact, I know how to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding world.
B: But how can you do that?
M: The main point is to learn to appreciate beauty. Beauty is nature’s brag, and must be shown in courts, at feasts, and high solemnities, where most may wonder at the workmanship. You don’t need to see it with your eyes but you can use your mind and imagination to see it as clearly as you did it with your eyes.
B: You mean, you have a sort of internal vision, which helps you to see beauty of the world.
M: Well, you may call it as you wish. However, I would like to recall you one of my thoughts, he that has light within his own clear breast May sit in the centre, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts Benighted walks under the mid-day sun; Himself his own dungeon.
B: Oh, I see. I guess you are happy that your mind can help you to see such great things and to have a positive view of the world.
M: I wouldn’t be so optimistic. Be aware my dear boy that the mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. But, wait a second boy, I’ve got a perfect verse so leave me alone please and join the beauty I see.
Finally, the boy encounters Claude Monet, who is staying next to the river bank and painting. The boy sees that he is blind and he is shocked with Monet’s efforts to paint.
Boy: Hi, Sir, may I ask you a question?
Monet: Certainly you can.
B: I see you’re blind but still you’re painting. How can you do that?
M: I am following Nature without being able to grasp her, I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers. I see the surrounding world with my mind. I do not need my eyes to see the nature and its beauty. I just need to feel it. My imagination helps me to grasp the essence of the nature and surrounding world so I get images, which I can see, even though I am blind. These images just appear in my head and I see them as clearly as if I could see. You know, I can even see you, although I have never met you and I will have never see you with my eyes.
B: Well, it’s great. You must be a great artist.
M: No one is an artist unless he carries his picture in his head before painting it, and is sure of his method and composition. In fact, you cannot judge about the artist until you see his works.
Milton leads the boy to his home and shows him the gallery, where his famous paintings are placed. The boy is impressed by the gallery and asks the painter
B: Have you ever needed the assistance of other people to create all these works?
M: Well, you always need the assistance of someone to create a good work or just to create. You know no one can live alone without the assistance of people, who are important for him. People need to feel support, especially artists because their work is pointless, if they fail to gain the recognition or, at least, support from the part of people, who are really important for them. Therefore, you should look for the support of your family or other meaningful people. Otherwise, your life will be unbearable, even if you can see.