The country of the blind by H.G.Wells | jssc cgl ssc tgt | summary

Summary

In this video, the story 'The Country of the Blind' by H.G. Wells is summarized. It follows Nunez, a mountaineer who, after falling into a secluded valley, discovers a community of blind people who have adapted to their blindness over generations. Nunez attempts to teach them the concept of sight, but they cannot comprehend it. As Nunez becomes frustrated, he falls in love with Medina, a local woman. Ultimately, Nunez decides to escape the valley, with Medina, after a failed attempt to conform to their way of life. The story explores themes of isolation, perception, and adaptation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nunez, a mountain climber, falls into a secluded valley in the story 'The Country of the Blind' by H.G. Wells.
• 😀 The valley is cut off from the outside world due to steep cliffs caused by an earthquake.
• 😀 The inhabitants of the valley have been blind for generations and have adapted by developing heightened senses like hearing and touch.
• 😀 Nunez believes that being the only sighted person in the valley, he could teach the villagers about the concept of sight and become their 'king'.
• 😀 The villagers cannot understand the idea of sight and dismiss Nunez’s explanations as mere imagination.
• 😀 Nunez falls in love with Medina Sarro, the daughter of Jacob, one of the villagers.
• 😀 The village elders deem Nunez unstable because of his obsession with sight, and they refuse to let him marry Medina.
• 😀 Nunez agrees to have his eyes surgically removed to conform to the villagers' way of life but escapes the valley before the operation takes place.
• 😀 In the original 1904 version of the story, Nunez’s fate is left uncertain as he climbs the surrounding mountains.
• 😀 In the 1939 revised version, Nunez warns the villagers of an impending rockslide, but they ignore him. He escapes the valley with Medina during the rockslide.
• 😀 The story explores themes of blindness, perception, and the tension between the known and unknown, highlighting Nunez's struggle to introduce sight to a community that has never known it.

Q & A

Who is the protagonist of 'The Country of the Blind' and what is his profession?

The protagonist of 'The Country of the Blind' is Nunez, a mountaineer who is attempting to climb a fictional mountain called Paros Cotopetal in Ecuador.

Why is the valley in the story called 'The Country of the Blind'?

The valley is called 'The Country of the Blind' because all of its inhabitants have been blind for generations. The community is isolated from the outside world, and they have adapted to their blindness.

What unique trait does the community in the valley possess due to their blindness?

The people in the valley have developed heightened senses, particularly of touch, hearing, and smell, as they have had to adapt to life without sight for generations.

What is Nunez's initial belief when he arrives in the valley, and how does it relate to the saying 'In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king'?

Nunez initially believes that, since he is the only person in the valley with sight, he will be considered a king. This belief is based on the saying 'In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king,' which suggests that someone with sight would hold power in a community that lacks it.

How do the villagers react when Nunez tries to explain the concept of sight?

The villagers cannot grasp the concept of sight because they have been blind for generations. They dismiss Nunez's explanations as mere imagination and are unable to comprehend the idea of vision.

Who is Medina, and what role does she play in the story?

Medina is a young woman in the valley and the daughter of Jacob, one of the villagers. Nunez falls in love with her, and he attempts to explain sight to her, but she also dismisses it. She plays a significant role as the object of Nunez's affections.

What is the villagers' reaction when Nunez proposes to marry Medina?

When Nunez proposes to marry Medina, the village elders refuse, considering him unstable due to his obsession with the concept of sight. They deem his fixation on sight a sign of madness.

What drastic decision does Nunez make when the villagers refuse to allow him to marry Medina?

Nunez agrees to undergo surgery to have his eyes surgically removed, as he believes that this will allow him to conform to the villagers' way of life. However, on the day of the operation, he escapes the valley.

How does the story end in the original version published in 1904?

In the original 1904 version, the story ends with Nunez climbing the mountains surrounding the valley, leaving his fate uncertain. The ending is open-ended, and it is not clear what happens to him.

How does the ending differ in the 1939 revised version of the story?

In the 1939 revised version, Nunez notices a rockslide that threatens the village. He warns the villagers, but they ignore his warnings. As a result, he escapes the valley with Medina during the rockslide.