Nancy Mairs Essay

the short essays “On Being a Cripple,” by Nancy Mairs, and “Living Under Circe’s Spell,” by Matthew Soyster, two different authors expose what their life was like after being diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis). The first essay is a piece that discusses years of dealing with this chronic degenerative disease, reflecting on what it has taught the author, how it has made her a better person, and also talks a lot about how society should treat the disabled as normal people. The second is a much shorter narrative where the author talks about his briefer experience with MS and the immediate emotions felt when he first faced challenges of the disease that ruined the course his future had been set on, focusing mainly on himself rather than the broad perspective of society. Both of these stories incorporate specific tone to make their stories more interesting and drive their opinions on how disabled people should be viewed. Using tone is one of the easiest ways an author can portray how they feel about a subject aside from flat out stating it. Both Mairs and Soyster successfully do this in their stories, but with different tones about the same topic. Mairs was never into sports or had big plans for the future that depended on being able to be active, so, “[she is] lucky that [her] predilections were already solitary, sedentary, and bookish,” except she can no longer return to a full-time job, “but [she has] enjoyed [her] studies,” (2). Mairs illustrates this quote with an…

The Concept of “Normal” Varies from Each Individual When the concept of “normal” features in the media, the divide between disability and normality is often discussed. Preconceived notions are then established, claiming that disability is undesirable and a lack. However, Channel 4’s trailer “We’re the Superhumans” and Nancy Mairs’ Waist-High in the World: A Life Among the Nondisabled challenges those beliefs. In the Paralympics trailer, each individual’s talents and capabilities are the main…

change my thought process. At this dinner, I happened to speak with an influential man that said, “Not everyone can do science, so if you are good at it, then you should stick with it.” …This is an educated man… How could I argue with his point? How do I choose between the greater good and monetary worth? The apex of my situation happened on a Tuesday afternoon. The most important piece of writing for me from this class was “On Being a Cripple.” I was balling after reading this. I have, and…

The story “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs demonstrates how Mairs did not give up and tried her best to live a normal life even though she had a serious disease called Multiple Sclerosis. In the story, she often describes herself as “Crippled”. Mairs can perform many activities like writing, teaching, speaking publicly about MS and depression. Throughout the article she discusses how she had developed the MS and how this disease affected her. She explains how she accepted all the losses she…

In the Essay developed by Nancy Mairs, Mairs analyzes her perception on what the word “crippled” means to her and what she feels serves its purpose. She defines the word in her own words stating that it is straightforward, precise, and holds history. She also gives her take on what the other words such as “handicapped” and “disabled mean to her stating that they are words that demean those who are not capable of doing things a certain way. She differentiates the levels of demeanor that the terms…

do rather than their achievements or their contribution to humanity. Why is this the perspective of so many humans? “Mental Illness on Television,” written by Rosie Anaya, and “Disability,” a work by Nancy Mairs, convey very similar ideas on the topic of how media negatively affects their reader or viewer’s outlook. However, Mairs and Anaya uniquely compose a look at the long lasting consequences that people with disabilities have to deal with on a daily basis due to the mass…

The Wrong Depiction of Disability In Nancy Mairs essay entitled “Disabilities”, she explains many of the complications that disabled people face because of the depiction that is shown of them in the media. Nancy Mairs is a disabled person herself, suffering from multiple sclerosis. In the essay, Nancy Mairs shows how disabled people are constantly excluded from the rest of society, especially from the media. Throughout the essay, Mairs uses personal experience to describe the daily struggles…

Cripple Analysis In “On Being a Cripple,” Author Nancy Mairs discusses the diction choices of referring to those with disabilities. Through juxtaposition, Mairs discusses the truth of diction towards the impaired, and demonstrates acceptance to her nature. Mairs tackles the tough truth: that many take for granted the ability to perform simple daily tasks other struggle with. In the paragraph (and the entire essay), Mairs utilizes the pronoun “I” to personalize the subject matter, increasing the…

Life can change at any moment for which we have little control over. In the essay “On Being a Cripple” by Nancy Mairs, she expresses her thoughts on having Multiple Sclerosis and how it significantly changed her life. She provides the reader with various sad and personal stories which would make one’s life miserable. However, when addressing her condition and its effect on her life, she keeps a calm and positive tone. One cannot control what happens in life, but it is possible to control one’s…

“Disability” Rhetorical Analysis In the essay "Disability" by Nancy Mairs, the author argues that the media must treat people with disability as normal. Mairs support her claim by first appealing to the reader’s emotions, secondly by proving her credibility as a disabled person, and thirdly appealing to the reader's logic by showing illogical reasoning of people in the media. Mairs’s purpose is to prove that disabled people are normal people as well in order to persuade advertiser to represent…