The Quiet Man By Bernard Bragg: Summary

The autobiography of deaf actor Bernard Bragg is inspiring, riveting, and heartwarming. The internationally renown actor, playwright, director, and lecturer helped found the National Theater of the Deaf, starred in his own television show “The Quiet Man” and traveled worldwide to teach his acting methods and life lessons. With his dream of becoming an actor and the beauty of sign language he accomplished his goal and then some. Despite the efforts of certain peers and professionals to deflect his determination and aspirations he rises above and lets no one put him down. Bragg’s efforts in his novel to show the beauty, passion, life and culture of sign language soar above adequate. It gives readers an increased appreciation for the richness …show more content…
Also, how deaf people were so sheltered and treated often less than or different than hearing people in ways that affected aspirations, careers, social events, school, and more. Deaf culture is so rich, powerful, wonderful, and underappreciated by the world. Bragg used his language to perform and reach so many people it is amazing. It broke my heart to learn that hearing individuals or oralists would stifle deaf children’s potential to learn their language and culture. To try to make a deaf child “act” like a hearing child is absurd and heartbreaking. They deserve to know the beauty of ASL and use it in their everyday lives. Making them read lips and not sign is not going to make them hearing nor should it. If I could give any of my family members or friends with deaf children advice it would be to make sure that child is enrolled in a school for the deaf and to surround that child with members of the deaf community to learn the culture. It is so crucial for that child as well as the parents to embrace deaf culture, learn about it, live it, and love