Mackenzie Kantor's A Man Who Had No Eyes
In Mackenzie Kantor’s “A Man Who Had No Eyes,” the readers follow along an interaction between two men were one is crimpled under his disabilities and the other who has not allowed his challenges to restrict him from success. The short story begins with a boorish beggar named Markwardt roaming the streets pouncing at the tiniest iota of empathy for, what he sees to be, his life ending disability. The disheveled man chooses for his life to consist of asking civilians roaming the streets if they “[would] [not] mind helping a poor guy out” (329), instead of making an honourable, conscientious living for himself. The beggar uses his disabilities as a crutch to get through life and make ends meet through using people’s compassion in his favour.
In contrast, the white collar insurance broker, Mr. Parsons, is a well-rounded man who has made a living for himself through hard work and determination. The immaculate man is “successful, respected, admired… and he [did] it alone, unaided” (328). Whereas Mr. Parsons use to be a simple skilled labourer, he saw something greater for himself and did not stop until he accomplished the goals his heart desired. However, in an unexpected plot twist, both men share one thing in common, their disability; however, their characters vary through the way they choose to move past what has happened to either allow prosperity or failure in the years to come. Consequently to Markwardt’s bitter and pessimistic personality, he is inhibited by his past similar to the way he had once gripped Mr. Parson’s back while restricting him from moving forward. Conversely, Mr. Parson’s persistence and optimistic personality allows him to grow from his past and succeed even when “struggling beneath handicaps” (328), with the motivation of never being held back such as the way Markwardt once had. In the end, everyone is given an option, they can either be suppressed under the pressures that challenges such as disabilities have to offer, or take the high road and use the unique circumstances they are faced with to help them reach their goals with the firing ambition to succeed.
In contrast, the white collar insurance broker, Mr. Parsons, is a well-rounded man who has made a living for himself through hard work and determination. The immaculate man is “successful, respected, admired… and he [did] it alone, unaided” (328). Whereas Mr. Parsons use to be a simple skilled labourer, he saw something greater for himself and did not stop until he accomplished the goals his heart desired. However, in an unexpected plot twist, both men share one thing in common, their disability; however, their characters vary through the way they choose to move past what has happened to either allow prosperity or failure in the years to come. Consequently to Markwardt’s bitter and pessimistic personality, he is inhibited by his past similar to the way he had once gripped Mr. Parson’s back while restricting him from moving forward. Conversely, Mr. Parson’s persistence and optimistic personality allows him to grow from his past and succeed even when “struggling beneath handicaps” (328), with the motivation of never being held back such as the way Markwardt once had. In the end, everyone is given an option, they can either be suppressed under the pressures that challenges such as disabilities have to offer, or take the high road and use the unique circumstances they are faced with to help them reach their goals with the firing ambition to succeed.