Children of a Lesser God

by Mark Medoff

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Summary

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The complex relationship between James Leeds, a speech teacher, and Sarah Norman, a deaf woman, explores themes of communication, identity, and self-acceptance. As they navigate their personal and professional lives, both face the challenge of understanding each other's worlds and the societal expectations placed upon them. The story unfolds with conflicts and realizations that question the nature of change and acceptance in both the hearing and deaf communities.

An Unconventional Introduction

At a state school for the deaf, James Leeds takes on the role of a speech teacher, working to improve Orin Dennis's English pronunciation. The school superintendent, Mr. Franklin, introduces James to Sarah Norman, a deaf woman who solely uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate. Despite James's charm, Sarah bluntly dismisses speech therapy as pointless. Her mother, Mrs. Norman, criticizes James’s efforts to make Sarah conform to the hearing world by speaking and lip-reading. James defends himself, insisting his intent is only to help Sarah navigate the hearing society.

Bridging Communication Barriers

Determined to connect with Sarah, James attempts humor in their next encounter. Although his jokes fall flat, he acknowledges her perspective and promises to adjust his approach. Skeptical but somewhat intrigued, Sarah agrees to join him for an Italian dinner. At the restaurant, James questions Sarah's reluctance toward speech therapy. She argues that ASL is just as valuable as English, while James maintains it is limited to the deaf community. Sarah accuses James of playing God, trying to mold her into his image. The following day, Orin confronts James, revealing his dissatisfaction with James's approach and expressing his desire to reform deaf education.

Growing Affections and Tensions

As Sarah and James grow closer, their budding relationship is met with challenges. Lydia, a student, attempts to intrude on their time together, but Sarah sends her away, aware of Lydia's crush on James. Unaware of Lydia's feelings, James is later warned by Mr. Franklin about the risks of a relationship with a student. Mrs. Norman reveals Sarah’s fear of speaking; she worries people will underestimate her intelligence. Despite this, James persists in encouraging her to use her voice. Sarah candidly shares that her interactions with hearing men are often limited to physical encounters. Undeterred, James is committed to communicating with her in any language, leading them to begin an intimate relationship. Orin is furious, wanting Sarah for his own political purposes, while Lydia, in her jealousy, reports the affair to Mr. Franklin, who issues another warning. To counteract the backlash, James and Sarah decide to marry, and she confides her dreams of teaching and having deaf children.

Confronting New Realities

Despite their love, both Orin and Mr. Franklin voice doubts about the couple's future. James assures them that communication will not be an issue but quickly realizes he is imposing limitations on Sarah. Acknowledging his mistake, he and Sarah marry privately. As they settle into faculty housing, Sarah starts embracing aspects of the hearing world. Orin visits, urging her not to abandon her roots, and informs her of a legal challenge against the school's discriminatory practices. Torn between two worlds, Sarah feels the pressure to choose sides. Orin's lawyer plans to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Orin urges Sarah to join the cause as a "pure deaf" representative. He insists that the struggle for deaf rights surpasses her marital commitments. During a meeting with the lawyer, Sarah perceives the conflicting desires of those around her: James wanting her to assimilate, Orin desiring her adherence to deaf culture, and the lawyer seeking to exploit her anger for legal gain. Frustrated by the lawyer's hearing-centric...

(This entire section contains 751 words.)

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perspective, Sarah decides to craft her own narrative.

Reckoning with Identity

In an attempt to reconcile, James approaches Sarah, who asks him to witness her speech. However, Sarah refuses his interpretation, asserting the need to express her own feelings. Hurt, James lashes out, provoking Sarah into a vocal outburst of raw, unintelligible sounds that leave him shocked. His reaction wounds Sarah, leading to an angry exchange in ASL before she storms off.

A Hollow Victory and New Understandings

Despite Sarah's absence, Orin's grievance succeeds, though the triumph feels empty. When James finds Sarah with her mother, she expresses a newfound understanding that she cannot change him, just as he cannot change her. Her desire for deaf children wanes, recognizing the ethical implications of imposing one’s identity onto another. Though they part ways, James leaves with the hope that their paths may align in mutual support and understanding someday.

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