Question 3: The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What is the kind of behaviour that the person expects from others?
Class 12 - English - On the Face of It Page -69
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Even though a person is physically disabled, he/she can live life with respect and honor. But that will happen only if he/she is not ridiculed and punished with heartless pity.
A disabled person expects empathy
rather than sympathy from people. He is already in tremendous mental and emotional
pressure and is in a tumultuous situation of life. So, he expects others to be understanding rather than remind him of
his disability.
It is quite true. The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment can be quite painful. But the sense of alienation is much more painful. The real pain comes from the people. Their reactions towards the disabled persons are never normal and human. People are either very cruel or they tend to be extra soft towards them. The results are offending in both the cases. Equally hurting are the unwanted comforting lies aimed at consoling them. Derry is suffering from the sense of inferiority complex. He can't face the world as it is. He avoids people. He likes to be lonely and withdrawn. He is totally alienated. He feels that no one can love and kiss him.
A physically impaired person expects a normal behaviour. He needs a human touch. Unchartible remarks offend him. But he doesn't want to be an object of pity either. Only a balanced and human attitude as adopted by Mr lamb towards Derry, can comfort him.