The Country of the Blind

H.G. Wells explores a thought experiment of a community deprived of sight in his short story "Over the Mountains." He questions how society would evolve and what would happen if a sighted outsider suddenly found himself in this country of the blind.

Format: Book
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: URTEXT LTD

Nunez, a renowned master of speculative fiction, presents a thought experiment in this short story. He asks, "What would happen to a community if its members were deprived of sight?" and explores the potential evolution of society in the absence of visibility. Furthermore, he poses the question, "What if a sighted outsider suddenly found himself in this country of the blind?"

The story takes place in a country beyond Bogota, where there are a hundred thousands of people. The city passes out of sight, and the narrator describes the landscape as "over the mountains." The story begins with Nunez, who is out of the country beyond there-where men can see. He is a man of great intelligence and has a deep understanding of the world.

One of the key themes of the story is the impact of sight on society. Wells explores the idea that sight is a fundamental aspect of human existence and that it shapes our perception of the world. Without sight, people would be unable to see the beauty of the natural world, the faces of their loved ones, and the intricacies of the world around them.

Wells also explores the idea of the blind community. He describes the community as a place of isolation and loneliness, where people are unable to communicate with each other. The narrator describes the community as a "world of darkness" and a "world of silence."

However, the story also shows that the blind community is not without its own unique culture and traditions. The narrator describes the community as a place of music, dance, and storytelling, where people use their other senses to communicate. The narrator also describes the community as a place of resilience and strength, where people have learned to adapt to their circumstances and thrive in the absence of sight.

One of the most interesting aspects of the story is the arrival of a sighted outsider. The outsider is a man named John, who has been traveling through the country of the blind. He is a man of great curiosity and has a deep desire to understand the world of the blind.

When John arrives in the community, he is initially met with suspicion and hostility. The community is afraid of outsiders and believes that they will bring harm to their way of life. However, John is able to win over the community with his kindness and his willingness to learn.

John begins to learn about the community and its customs. He learns about the music, the dance, and the storytelling, and he begins to appreciate the beauty of the world of the blind. He also begins to understand the challenges that the community faces and the struggles that they have overcome.

One of the challenges that the community faces is the lack of access to education. Without sight, people are unable to read and write, and they are unable to access the same educational opportunities as sighted people. This has led to a lack of economic opportunities and a lack of social mobility.

Wells explores the idea of education in the story. He describes the community as a place where education is valued and where people are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. He also describes the challenges that the community faces in providing education to its members.

One of the solutions that the community has come up with is the use of braille. Braille is a system of writing that uses raised dots to represent letters and words. It is a complex system, but it is accessible to people with visual impairments. The community has established a school for the blind, where children can learn to read and write in braille.

However, the use of braille is not without its challenges. Braille books are expensive, and they are not widely available. Many people in the community are unable to afford to buy braille books, and they are forced to rely on oral communication.

Despite these challenges, the community has made significant progress in providing education to its members. The school for the blind has been successful, and many of its students have gone on to achieve great things. The community has also established a library, where people can access books in braille and other formats.

In addition to education, the community has also developed a strong sense of community. The community is a place where people are willing to help each other and where they are able to build strong relationships. The community has also established a number of social programs, such as a food bank and a medical clinic.

However, the community also faces a number of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of access to healthcare. Without sight, people are unable to see their doctors and to receive medical treatment. This has led to a high rate of illness and disease in the community.

Wells explores the idea of healthcare in the story. He describes the community as a place where healthcare is valued and where people are willing to work hard to achieve their goals. He also describes the challenges that the community faces in providing healthcare to its members.

One of the solutions that the community has come up with is the use of telemedicine. Telemedicine is a system of healthcare that uses technology to connect patients with doctors and other healthcare providers. It has been successful in many parts of the world, and it has been used in the community to provide medical treatment to its members.

However, the use of telemedicine is not without its challenges. Telemedicine requires access to technology, and it can be expensive. Many people in the community are unable to afford to access telemedicine, and they are forced to rely on traditional healthcare providers.

Despite these challenges, the community has made significant progress in providing healthcare to its members. The community has established a number of clinics and hospitals, and it has been able to provide medical treatment to its members. The community has also established a number of programs to prevent illness and disease, such as a vaccination program and a nutrition program.

In conclusion, H.G. Wells' short story "Over the Mountains I Come" is a thought experiment that explores the impact of sight on society. The story takes place in a country beyond Bogota, where there are a hundred thousands of people. The story begins with Nunez, who is out of the country beyond there-where men can see. The story explores the idea of the blind community and the challenges that it faces. The story also shows that the blind community is not without its own unique culture and traditions. The arrival of a sighted outsider, John, leads to a change in the community, and the community begins to embrace education and healthcare. However, the community also faces a number of challenges, such as the lack of access to education and healthcare. Despite these challenges, the community has made significant progress in providing education and healthcare to its members.

Dimension: 200 x 110 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912475810