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Essay / Children of a Lesser God: Characters of James Leeds and Sarah Norman
Table of ContentsJames LeedsSarah NormanConclusionIn Mark Medoff's play and novel "Children of a Lesser God", the characters of James Leeds and Sarah Norman are at the heart of the exploration of history. on themes of communication, equality and power dynamics. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayJames LeedsJames Leeds is a teacher at a school for the deaf and is determined to teach one of his students, Sarah Norman, to speak and read lips. James is a complex character, with both admirable and flawed qualities that are revealed throughout the story. One of the most notable qualities of James' character is his passion for helping others. He is dedicated to his work as a teacher and is determined to empower Sarah by teaching her to speak. James sees this as a way to help him integrate into the hearing world and believes it will give him more opportunities in life. He is also shown to be patient and persistent in his efforts to teach Sarah, despite her initial resistance. However, James' passion for helping others can also be a weakness. He is often overbearing and lacks sensitivity to Sarah's own feelings and experiences. He is also somewhat condescending and dismissive of her feelings, which creates tension between them. James' lack of understanding of Sarah's perspective is a major flaw in his character, and it's something he must learn to overcome in order to truly connect with her. Another major aspect of James' character is his pride and self-confidence. He is very intelligent and is used to controlling situations. He is also used to being able to communicate effectively with others and is frustrated that he cannot do so with Sarah. This pride and self-confidence is also reflected in his approach to teaching Sarah, as he often scorns her use of sign language and is convinced that speaking and lip-reading is the only way for her to truly succeed in the hearing world. .Additionally, James also struggles with his own biases and prejudices. He initially views Sarah as an "inferior" person due to her deafness, and it takes him time to realize that deaf culture and language have their own value. He is also shown to be unaware of the power dynamic that exists between him and Sarah, as a hearing and deaf person respectively. This further highlights his lack of understanding and empathy for Sarah's point of view. However, James' character also undergoes a significant arc of growth and development throughout the story. He begins to understand and respect Sarah's point of view and begins to learn sign language. He also begins to understand the importance of communication and understanding different perspectives, not only for Sarah but also for himself. He realizes that there are many ways to communicate and that true communication is only possible when both parties are willing to listen and learn from each other. James Leeds is passionate and determined to help others, but he also has flaws such as insensitivity, disdain, and prejudice. However, his character arc shows that he is capable of growing and developing, learning to understand and respect different perspectives, and ultimately becoming a better person. Sarah Norman Sarah Norman is a central character in Mark Medoff's novel "Children of a Lesser God". She is.