In another sense, Blindness probes the fragility of our society. One single change that sweeps throughout the populace leads to a complete breakdown in societal systems, transforming the human race over mere days. Stripped of the ability to see, society is forced to change and adapt, moving into a survival mode that, overnight, disregards years of societal training and instruction. Furthermore, Saramago shows how certain social barriers--age, class and race, for instance--can so easily be stripped away if given the proper circumstances. The story is intent on delving into the core of what it means to be human and what kind of base behaviors we are susceptible to, both good and bad.
Eventually, as the epidemic spreads, the story moves out of the asylum and into the city. The inmates are left to fend by themselves in a world they can no longer see or recognize. Again, here, the doctor's wife pulls them all together, acting as the center of the story and as a pillar of strength for the various characters. The climax is chilling and it speaks to something greater within us as humans. I won't pretend to fully grasp what it is, or to claim a complete understanding of the climax, but I could feel the underlying truths of that scene as I read it. There is something about the images within the church--you'll know the scene I speak of when you read it--that dug in and took hold of me. I don't know exactly what Saramago was saying, but I know I felt, on some level, something extraordinary in that passage about the human condition. And that, ultimately, is what Blindness is about. The novel is about our society and our humanity and will leave you both shaken and inspired about what it is to live, what it is to be human.
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(Edited 2/9/05 to specify it was Saramago, not the book, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature.)
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
Great review, Joel. I too have been meaning to check out Saramago for years, though of course I've not yet done it. The Cave has tempted me several times in the book store, but now I'm tempted to put Blindness at the top of my list.
I'm reminded here of two other novels, one literary and one "genre fiction": Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Stand, by Stephen King. Both deal with a breakdown in society and with the humanity and evil that emerges in individuals when the chips are down and the rules have blown away like the wind. It looks as though Blindness captures a new and intriguing angle on this theme.
This book review has been selected for Advance.net. You’ll be able to find this and other Blog Critics reviews at such places at Cleveland.com’s Book Reviews column.
2 - Joel Caris
I would definitely recommend starting off with Blindness. It has to be one of his best books and you'll probably really like it. It will also give you a good introduction to the way he writes.
I thought The Stand did a great job of dealing with the crumbling of society. I haven't read Lord of the Flies yet, but that's one of the books I keep meaning to pick up. In terms of end of the world type books, another good one is Swan Song by Robert McCammon. Personally, I put that right up there with The Stand. A truly great book.
And thanks for selecting the review for Advance.net.
3 - Stephanie Blum
Admist reports of rape and murder in New Orleans in the chaotic aftermath of the August 2005 hurricane, I wonder if Mr. Saramago had a comment regarding the accuracy of his predictions as depicted in "Blindness"?
4 - Joel Caris
It would be interested to know what he thinks, Stephanie. I know the last few days I keep thinking about that book and marveling--in quite a bit of horror--that something almost exactly like that is happening here, in the United States.
It's incredible, and absolutely horrifying.
5 - Christopher Rollason
The remarks about Saramago's BLINDNESS are right on target. The similitudes are horrifying, and Saramago as a great artist has indeed predicted with uncanny accuracy what happens to 'civilisation' as soon as the infrastructure breaks down. Martial law, governmental indifference, marauding gangs, all kinds of abuses and the near-disappeance of basic humanity. I will soon be publishing an article about this novel comparing it with Orwell's '1984'. If you come across any comments by Saramago on New Orleans, please let me know.
6 - nathalie chabiland
When i read what is happening to the 20 000 people trapped for 5 days in the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center, i thought right away about Blindness that i just read in the Spring. Since then, i regularly think about this book...But i always thought about it as a philosophical tale...And now that it is real...
7 - ashley
I really liked your review, and it now that i think of it, I can see the parallels between it and hurricane katrina. I was wondering, do you have any comments on the use of animals in a lot of Saramago's descriptions?