Sunday, October 5, 2008

Losus Naturae and Social Injustice

“Losus Naturae” is fiction, and the disease the main character of the story suffers from was manufactured by the imagination of the author. However, the way the characters in the story act and think reveals very true lessons about living in society and the search for acceptance.

The little girl in the story afflicted with the leprosy like disease is shunned from her family because they do not want to be identified with her. This is terrible, but the girl even says she understands why they distance from her. “He sat on the other side of the table. Though this enforced distance pained me, I could see his point.” In the world today, there are all kinds of people we distance ourselves from even though they need help. Think about people living in poverty or people with mental or physical disabilities.

The way the narrator desired to have company and live as part of society can serve a poignant lesson about our desires. “Perhaps they were—oh, at last!—beings like myself.” I think all people are looking for people who are like they are and accepting of them.

The most interesting line of the story is the last one when the narrator says, “Perhaps in Heaven I’ll look like an angel, or perhaps the angels will look like me. What a surprise that will be for everyone else!” The disease stricken girl was unjustly made into a pariah when she should have received affection and help. Although she has been called “like a monster”, the people who want to kill her are the real monsters.

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