"Sound and Fury" Response

This week in class we watched "Sound and Fury," a movie directed by Josh Aronson in 2000. The film gave two perspectives on the cochlear implant controversy. I don't feel that I can take a complete stance on the issue at this time. I say that only because the movie, from my perspective, was more of a sissy argument rather than a factual debate.

 Heather, a six year old girl, is deaf. She is being raised by her two deaf parents. Her parents are very wishy washy throughout the whole film. The only thing that is clear is that they do not want Heather to be taken away from the deaf community. Heather’s mom decides that she is going to go seek medical advice to find out if she could get the implant as well. After she is told that the implant seems to have less effect on people who receive it when they are older, she becomes discouraged and refuses to let Heather have the operation.

Heather’s aunt and uncle, paternal side, gave birth to two twin boys- one of which was deaf. They go through with the operation as soon as possible because they want their son, Peter, to have the most opportunities possible. The operation was a success and Peter is able to hear.

Both sides of the family bash each other in a who’s right, who’s wrong argument throughout the entire movie. If I were to make my stance solely from this film, I would be all for the implant. Who wouldn’t want their child to be able to hear the melodies of the world? But as I said, I would need to do far more research to be able to properly argue my case.