Children of A Lesser God에 나타난 청각장애인의 정체성

Deaf Identity in Children of A Lesser God

This paper examines the difference between disability and deafness, analyzes deaf problems, and examines Sarah’s effort in reestablishing deaf identity in Mark Medoff’s Children of A Lesser God, which is considered one of the most successful plays to deal with deafness. The play portrays deaf life in the late 1970s. The playwright showcases deaf identities to shine a light on the reality of the deaf who have been neglected by society. Thus, Medoff suggests a deaf disability discourse to overcome the existing stereotype through the story of a deaf heroine. Sarah, who is deaf, refuses to make sacrifices and conform to the existing society, and demonstrates a strong will to establish a deaf identity. In the play, Medoff exemplifies a deaf’s will to lead demonstrations against a hearing world and defend their right through an apprentice teacher, Orin. Medoff also lets society know about the existence of the Deaf community as a minority group. Although Sarah is deaf, she has an intense sense of sovereignty and independence, for her culture, namely for the Deaf community. James tries to teach her his language, but she refuses to learn it. However, in the long run Sarah and James agree to work together in order to help each other dismiss stereotypes from their minds and reside in another place; not in silence or in sound but somewhere else. Therefore, Medoff’s play is significant in revealing the hidden reality of the deaf to the world.