Goldilocks or Granny?: Portrayals of deafness in the English novel

This paper examines the portrayal of characters that are deaf in 29 English novels written over 300 years by mainstream authors for a largely hearing readership. Their attributes are examined with particular reference to the mode of communication, education, medical intervention and issues of identity, and as to how far these portrayals resonate with the experience of persons with hearing loss by comparison to contemporary deaf narratives. The reasons why hearing authors include such representations are considered and two categories of iconic character are identified – ‘Goldilocks’ and ‘Granny’, discussing how far these portrayals truly inform about deafness or reflect the underlying attitudes of the author and the society they represent.

Source: Journal of Medical Biography - October 13, 2015 Category: History of Medicine Authors: Dakin, P. Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research