Rhetorical Analysis Essay Of On Being A Cripple By Nancy Mair

Nancy Mair's author and cripple, in her essay “I am a cripple,” defines the different words for being disabled, Mair’s has multiple Sclerosis, her intentions are to express that people “pretty” the words in how people label the disabled community. Mair’s acquires a “dignified” tone to proclaim feeling towards the words used as being a “cripple” to physically able people who have yet to notice the lack of disabled people being portrayed by the media. 

Throughout the passage, Mair’s shifts her focus on herself and wants the audience to know that she is brutally tuff and that she is very straightforward. In line 13 she clearly states, “As a cripple I swagger”. Mair’s wants to show her audience that regardless of her disability, she still can carry out her tasks every day. She believes that her MS does not define her capability on doing things, it is the reason why she calls herself a cripple. Mair’s clearly states that she doesn’t want to be “put as a disadvantage” and she proves herself to not be that way. 

Although Mair’s is very expressive and straightforward, she obviously wants people to care and to explain that it isn’t ok for the people to be calling or naming the “cripples” in a way. When she says, “But call me disabled or handicapped if you like.” What Mair’s is trying to say here is that you can call her those things that’s fine, but she doesn’t want the idea of people thinking that she can’t do anything just because she is a cripple. She knows there is more to life than JUST being a cripple. 

Mair’s perspective on this isn’t to hurt those but to warn people that saying these things like “handicapped, or “disabled” and “cripple” aren’t pleasing or adequate to say. Mair’s uses a sarcastic tone that is yet serious to get he point across about “being a cripple”. Nancy Mair’s clearly suffers from being a cripple but uses the word with such comfort when it comes to herself. When Mair’s speaks the words “But I don’t care what you call me, so long as it isn’t differently abled”.  She wants to prove to people that it’s ok calling herself that, but people “labeling” the idea of calling people names that are disabled isn’t okay and that she is standing up for that. 

In conclusion, Nancy Mair’s presents herself as a confident woman that is not afraid to speak up against the world and to embrace the harsh meaning of words. Someone who isn’t afraid to face the harsh truths and personal reality. Mair’s conveys this by throwing out “blunt” or “dignified” words to really express how she feels about being known as a “cripple” and that there isn’t nobody that is going to stop her for what she stands for or believes in.