The story of "The Mountain" was an inspiring story concerning the struggles that one must overcome in life. The concept of the mountain can be related to the structure of today's society in which the powerful reside at the summit, while those inferior create the base. Those wanting to achieve success must travel towards the top of the mountain overcoming obstacles in the process of doing so. However, even if one were to reach it to the top, one may not be completely satisfied, because "it's goddamn lonely up there on the mountain." We have to become something we are not in order to reach the peak of the moutain, and that can mean losing friends as well as losing one's self. We have to decide when and where we are comfortable on the mountain, and maintain a life that we may be proud of.
The narrator of the story tells of her own life and the struggles in which she had to endure. The concept of the mountain was more than just a literal sense, but was also an actual element in which she wanted to overcome. She wanted to travel up Mount Adams despite her disability of having cerebral palsy, which had made life all the more difficult for her. However, she still was able to overcome many aspects throughout her life, and even was given the title of "supercrip." In a way, a supercrip is basically someone who is disabled that is able to overcome their deficiences to be able to perform actions that would otherwise be seen as extraordinary for a person of their stature. It almost seems more of an insult to be called a supercrip, because if makes a disabled person seem not even human, which is how some people in the world view disabled people now, which is sad. Someone who is disabled is just like anyone else, because every person in the world is the same, despite abnormalities or problems, we are all the human just unique in our own ways. So, to categorize someone as a supercrip is rather hurtful. Although the narrator was not able to complete her voyage up the mountain, it was her effort that had made her great. She failed but she had at least attempted something that she loved despite her medical condition.
(David Roberts, Post 17)
Excellent description of the top of the mountain and why Clare sees it as a lonely place. Essentially, in order to reach the top of the mountain we have to conform to society's expectations of what is normal, but lose ourselves along the way. Clare seems to be arguing for an acknowledgment and embrace of difference.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, you do an excellent job of identifying the key issues within the chapter.