Lecture Notes: "The Country of the Blind" by H.G. Wells

Setting and Background

• The story takes place in a remote mountain valley in the Andes of Ecuador, isolated from the rest of the world.
• The valley, known as the Country of the Blind, was once accessible but became isolated due to a landslide.
• Early settlers from Peru established a community there, but a disease caused all children born in the valley to be blind.

The Legend

• A survivor of the landslide told tales of the valley, creating a legend of a blind community.
• Over generations, the community adapted to blindness, developing their own traditions and ways of life.

The Arrival of Nunez

• Nunez, a mountaineer, becomes separated from an expedition and falls into the valley.
• He discovers the community and assumes that being sighted will make him superior ("In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king").
• Initially, the blind residents do not understand his concept of sight and view him as an outsider.

Nunez's Experience in the Valley

• Nunez struggles to explain sight and is met with disbelief and skepticism.
• The blind community has developed acute other senses, which they rely on to navigate their world.
• The society is structured to accommodate their blindness, with orderly paths and routines.

Nunez's Love Interest

• Nunez falls in love with a woman named Medina Saroté, whose features are less blind-like.
• Despite opposition, they develop a romantic relationship.
• Nunez is faced with a choice when the community suggests a surgery to remove his eyes for mental health.

Internal Conflict and Resolution

• Nunez contemplates the surgery as a sacrifice for love but ultimately values his sight and freedom.
• He decides to leave the valley, realizing the beauty of the world outside.
• The story concludes with Nunez escaping his perceived captivity, appreciating the beauty of the natural world.

Themes

• Exploration of perception and the nature of reality.
• The conflict between individual identity and societal conformity.
• The value of sensory perception and the subjective experience of reality.

Conclusion

• Nunez chooses freedom and sight over conforming to the community's standards.
• The story raises questions about what it means to see and understand the world.