Free Sample Essays > North American
Under The Eye Of The Clock by Christopher Nolan
As a society we have grown in our acceptance of individuals with disability. We have made technological advancements in so many areas to aide in their independence and comfort overall. Yet the misconceptions continue. Even when our society has overcome some prejudices against classes and races we are unable to avoid the tendency, which still exists, to feel prejudice toward certain groups, specifically toward persons with different abilities. As able bodied persons we are still very ignorant about the abilities of these individuals because we learn such negative attitudes. We have not been given the special opportunity to live the life that they do, to experience the world in a totality different means. We have been normalized so we can’t imagine life to be any other way. But one significant individual, Christopher Nolan, opens our eyes to this world. In his novel, Under the Eye of the Clock, Nolan eloquently paints a picture of his life. Through his words we get a better understanding of the lives of individuals with disabilities and we are simultaneously captivated by his talent as a writer.
With the heart of a poet, Nolan writes his life story as a severely disabled young boy named Joseph Meehan, a child born severely brain damaged and known to the world as “the crippled boy.” Living in Ireland with cerebral palsy, Joseph fights to escape the restrictions and confines of his existence. “Locked for years in the coffin of his body," paralyzed and mute, we are made aware of his efforts and those of his family to release him from his isolation to find the “smallest moments of control in his life.” Nolan describes his battles with self-pity in early childhood, his occasional despair and anger, the frequent loneliness, his growing faith in God, the joy of riding his sister's pony, family vacations, and the huge effort and wonderful success of going to a regular school and establishing genuine friendships.
Joseph Meehan is actually born breech and at birth he suffers from asphyxiation, which causes him to have cerebral palsy. He cannot talk and he is extremely spastic, yet his family eagerly tries to keep his life as normal as possible. Although Joseph suffers from this disability he is not completely handicapped because so many provisions are made for him. He is actually apart of the lucky few who get special treatment. He receives special education sessions such as physiotherapy and speech therapy in an effort to become more individualized. And he is surrounded by family, friends, health and education professionals who advocate his special-school and mainstream education.
Although Joseph is severely disabled, he shows that he is able to overcome his restrictions to reach his goals. Not only does the story address Joseph's birth, early life, and education, but it also sheds light on his growing acclaim as a poet and writer and his struggle to achieve that dream. With the constant help of his family, [next page]