No, Oskar's grandmother in Jonathan Safran Foer's novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is not blind in the literal sense of lacking physical eyesight.
Understanding Her Vision in the Narrative
While she maintains her physical vision, the story introduces a complex layer to her "sight," suggesting challenges that are both literal and, more significantly, figurative. This nuance adds depth to her character and the themes explored in the novel.
Literal and Figurative Sight Issues Explored
- Not Physically Blind: She does not suffer from an impairment that prevents her from seeing the world around her. Her ability to navigate, interact with objects, and perform daily tasks is not hindered by physical blindness.
- Subtle Literal Indications: Despite not being blind, there are subtle hints within the narrative that she might have some literal, though undiagnosed or unacknowledged, sight problems. These are not explicitly stated as a medical condition but are suggested through her actions or perceptions.
- Profound Figurative Blindness: The more significant aspect of her "sight problems" is metaphorical or figurative. This is strikingly illustrated when her son, Thomas, discovers her typewritten life story, spanning 2,000 pages, consists entirely of blank sheets. This symbolic act can represent:
- An emotional or psychological inability to "see," acknowledge, or process her past traumas and experiences.
- A deliberate choice to "not see" or record the painful or unresolved memories of her life, leaving a void.
- A disconnect from reality or her own lived experiences, resulting in an unwritten, un-"seen" personal history.
This narrative detail emphasizes that her struggle is not with physical vision but with profound emotional and psychological "blindness," where she is unable or unwilling to confront and record the difficult aspects of her past. It highlights a form of denial or a coping mechanism that manifests as a blank narrative of her life.
