Illiteracy

Paper Summary:

Discusses problems of illiteracy. Dangers posed by workers who can't read. How and why people hide their illiteracy. Illiteracy as a handicap. Centers on Bernard Schlink's novel THE READER, a coming-of-age story. Importance of becoming literate. Cites example of character whose refusal to acknowledge her inabiltuy to read prevents her from proving her innocence in a war-crime trial.

From the Paper:

"Illiteracy in The Reader


Aware that more than two billion people can neither read nor write the simplest message in any language, the United Nations. . .declared 1990 International Literacy Year. I've been reading for half a century, and it is as hard for me to imagine what it's like to be illiterate as it is to imagine what it's like to be mute, blind, and deaf. Being illiterate must be life imprisonment in a dark hole (Liefhebber, 1).


There were some people in Miami in the airport who were entrusted with maintaining the brake systems on air planes. They could not read a notice that was..."

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• Analytical Essay # 2251 : "Illiteracy: Today's National Crisis"

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