The theme of

blindness Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment� ...

has been explored by many different cultures throughout history, with blind characters appearing in stories from ancient Greek mythology and Judeo-Christian religious texts. In the modern era, blindness has featured in numerous works of literature and poetry by authors such as

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

William Blake William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his life, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of the poetry and visual art of the Romantic Age. ...

, and

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells"Wells, H. G."
Revised 18 May 2015. ''

Oedipus Oedipus (, ; grc-gre, Οἰδίπους "swollen foot") was a mythical Greek king of Thebes. A tragic hero in Greek mythology, Oedipus accidentally fulfilled a prophecy that he would end up killing his father and marrying his mother, thereby ...

is depicted as blinding himself in the

Sophocles Sophocles (; grc, Σοφοκλῆς, , Sophoklễs; 497/6 – winter 406/5 BC)Sommerstein (2002), p. 41. is one of three ancient Greek tragedians, at least one of whose plays has survived in full. His first plays were written later than, or co ...

play ''

Oedipus Rex ''Oedipus Rex'', also known by its Greek title, ''Oedipus Tyrannus'' ( grc, Οἰδίπους Τύραννος, ), or ''Oedipus the King'', is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC. Originally, to the ancient Gr ...

''. Upon discovering that he has unknowingly killed his father and married his mother, Oedipus bursts into his wife's bed-chamber and discovers that she has hanged herself. Taking the brooches from her dress, he drives the pins into his eyes, exclaiming: "You have looked enough upon those you ought never to have looked upon". In Sophocles's '' Oedipus at Colonus'', Oedipus is a wandering outcast, led and supported by his daughter

Antigone In Greek mythology, Antigone ( ; Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνη) is the daughter of Oedipus and either his mother Jocasta or, in another variation of the myth, Euryganeia. She is a sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene.Roman, L., & Roma ...

. Although this is the best-known version of the story, an alternative tradition is preserved in the surviving fragments of

Euripides Euripides (; grc, Εὐριπίδης, Eurīpídēs, ; ) was a tragedian Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful e ...

's ''

'', according to which Oedipus was blinded by a servant of his father,

Laius In Greek mythology, King Laius (pronounced ), or Laios ( el, Λάϊος) of Thebes was a key personage in the Theban founding myth. Family Laius was the son of Labdacus. He was the father, by Jocasta, of Oedipus, who killed him. Mytholog ...

. **

Evenius Euenius () or Peithenius () was an Ancient Greek legendary seer from Apollonia (Illyria), Apollonia, Illyria, whose story survives in the accounts of Herodotus and Conon (mythographer), Conon. The somewhat more detailed version of Herodotus is as f ...

/Peithenius from Apollonia was tasked with guarding the sacred sheep of the sun god

Helios In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, Helios (; grc, , , Sun; Homeric Greek: ) is the deity, god and personification of the Sun (Solar deity). His name is also Latinized as Helius, and he is often given the epithets Hyper ...

, but failed at his task, as the sheep were devoured by wolves, and the Apollonians in retaliation blinded him. A famine then broke out, as a result of Helios' anger over the treatment of Evenius; the Apollonians then consulted the Oracle of Delphi, which ordered them to compensate Evenius by offering him reparations. The earth grew fertile again, and the gods additionally blessed Evenius with the gift of prophecy. ** There are many stories in which the gods inflict blindness on mortals, often as a punishment for disrespect, or for violating a taboo. One well-known example is the prophet

Tiresias In Greek mythology, Tiresias (; grc, Τειρεσίας, Teiresías) was a blind prophet of Apollo in Thebes, famous for clairvoyance and for being transformed into a woman for seven years. He was the son of the shepherd Everes and the nymph ...

, whose blindness is ascribed to various causes. According to one story, it was a punishment for revealing the secrets of the gods; according to another, he was struck blind after accidentally witnessing

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of ...

bathing; in a third, he was blinded by

Hera In ancient Greek religion, Hera (; grc-gre, Ἥρα, Hḗrā; grc, Ἥρη, Hḗrē, label=none in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she ...

after taking

Zeus Zeus or , , ; grc, Δῐός, ''Diós'', label=Genitive case, genitive Aeolic Greek, Boeotian Aeolic and Doric Greek#Laconian, Laconian grc-dor, Δεύς, Deús ; grc, Δέος, ''Déos'', label=Genitive case, genitive el, Δίας, ''D� ...

's side in a dispute. Meanwhile, Erymanthus was blinded by the goddess

Aphrodite Aphrodite ( ; grc-gre, Ἀφροδίτη, Aphrodítē; , , ) is an ancient Greek goddess associated with love, lust, beauty, pleasure, passion, and procreation. She was syncretized with the Roman goddess . Aphrodite's major symbols include ...

when he saw her bathing naked after she had made love to her lover Adonis. Other examples of mythological characters blinded by the gods include

Lycurgus Lycurgus or Lykourgos () may refer to: People * Lycurgus (king of Sparta) (third century BC) * Lycurgus (lawgiver) (eighth century BC), creator of constitution of Sparta * Lycurgus of Athens (fourth century BC), one of the 'ten notable orators' ...

, Thamyris, Aepytus II, Phineus,

Ilus In Greek mythology, Ilus (; ) is the name of several mythological persons associated directly or indirectly with Troy. * Ilus, the son of Dardanus, and the legendary founder of Dardania. * Ilus, the son of Tros, and the legendary founder of Troy ...

, and

Anchises Anchises (; grc-gre, Ἀγχίσης, Ankhísēs) was a member of the royal family of Troy in Greek and Roman legend. He was said to have been the son of King Capys of Dardania and Themiste, daughter of Ilus, who was son of Tros. He is most fam ...

. ** Characters blinded not by gods but by humans include

Polyphemus Polyphemus (; grc-gre, Πολύφημος, Polyphēmos, ; la, Polyphēmus ) is the one-eyed giant son of Poseidon and Thoosa in Greek mythology, one of the Cyclopes described in Homer's ''Odyssey''. His name means "abounding in songs and lege ...

, Phoenix,

Plexippus In Greek mythology, Plexippus or Plexippos (Ancient Greek: Πλήξιππος means "striking") is a name that refers to: * Plexippus, a Pleuronian prince as the son of King Thestius of Pleuron and Eurythemis, daughter of Cleoboea. He was the br ...

and Pandion, Polymestor, and Metope. ** Sometimes, blind people in Greek mythology are granted special abilities by way of compensation. Tiresias and Evenius received the gift of prophecy, and the poet Demodocus was granted a beautiful voice. *There are several blind figures in the

Hebrew Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''. Hebrew: ''Tān ...

: **In

Genesis Genesis may refer to: Bible * Book of Genesis, the first book of the biblical scriptures of both Judaism and Christianity, describing the creation of the Earth and of mankind * Genesis creation narrative, the first several chapters of the Book of ...

27,

Jacob Jacob (; ; ar, يَعْقُوب, Yaʿqūb; gr, Ἰακώβ, Iakṓb), later given the name Israel, is regarded as a patriarch of the Israelites and is an important figure in Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. J ...

takes advantage of his father

Isaac Isaac; grc, Ἰσαάκ, Isaák; ar, إسحٰق/إسحاق, Isḥāq; am, ይስሐቅ is one of the three patriarchs of the Israelites and an important figure in the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He was the ...

's blindness to steal the blessing intended for his elder brother

Esau Esau ''Ēsaû''; la, Hesau, Esau; ar, عِيسَوْ ''‘Īsaw''; meaning "hairy"Easton, M. ''Illustrated Bible Dictionary'', (, , 2006, p. 236 or "rough".Mandel, D. ''The Ultimate Who's Who in the Bible'', (.), 2007, p. 175 is the elder son o ...

. He dresses himself in Esau's clothes, and wraps goatskins around his hands and neck. Isaac recognises Jacob's voice, but is deceived by the smell of his garments and the hairiness of his hands, and therefore gives him the blessing. **In

Judges A judge is an official who presides over a court. Judge or Judges may also refer to: Roles *Judge, an alternative name for an adjudicator in a competition in theatre, music, sport, etc. *Judge, an alternative name/aviator call sign for a membe ...

16, Samson is captured by the

Philistines The Philistines ( he, פְּלִשְׁתִּים, Pəlīštīm; Koine Greek (LXX): Φυλιστιείμ, romanized: ''Phulistieím'') were an ancient people who lived on the south coast of Canaan from the 12th century BC until 604 BC, when ...

, who put out his eyes and set him to forced labour. On the occasion of a great religious festival, Samson is brought into the temple of

Dagon Dagon ( he, דָּגוֹן, ''Dāgōn'') or Dagan ( sux, 2= dda-gan, ; phn, 𐤃𐤂𐤍, Dāgān) was a god worshipped in ancient Syria across the middle of the Euphrates, with primary temples located in Tuttul and Terqa, though many attes ...

, for the entertainment of the Philistines assembled there. However, to avenge himself for the loss of his eyes, Samson topples the two central pillars and brings down the roof of the temple, killing himself and everyone within. **In

1 Samuel The Book of Samuel (, ''Sefer Shmuel'') is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Samuel) in the Old Testament. The book is part of the narrative history of Ancient Israel called the Deuteronomistic history, a series of books (Josh ...

3, the high priest

Eli Eli most commonly refers to: * Eli (name), a given name, nickname and surname * Eli (biblical figure) Eli or ELI may also refer to: Film * ''Eli'' (2015 film), a Tamil film * ''Eli'' (2019 film), an American horror film Music * ''Eli'' (Jan ...

becomes blind with age, at the time of the calling of

Samuel Samuel ''Šəmūʾēl'', Tiberian: ''Šămūʾēl''; ar, شموئيل or صموئيل '; el, Σαμουήλ ''Samouḗl''; la, Samūēl is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the bibl ...

. In chapter 4, following the capture of the

Ark of the Covenant The Ark of the Covenant,; Ge'ez: also known as the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of God, is an alleged artifact believed to be the most sacred relic of the Israelites, which is described as a wooden chest, covered in pure gold, with an e ...

by the Philistines, Eli enquires about the cause of the commotion in the city. When he is told that the Ark has been taken, he falls backwards out of his seat and breaks his neck. **In

1 Kings The Book of Kings (, '' Sēfer Məlāḵīm'') is a book in the Hebrew Bible, found as two books (1–2 Kings) in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It concludes the Deuteronomistic history, a history of Israel also including the books ...

14, the son of the Israelite king

Jeroboam Jeroboam I (; Hebrew: ''Yārŏḇə‘ām''; el, Ἱεροβοάμ, Hieroboám) was the first king of the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Hebrew Bible describes the reign of Jeroboam to have commenced following a revolt of the ten northern ...

falls sick, and Joroboam sends his wife to consult the blind prophet

Ahijah Ahijah ( ''’Ǎḥîyāh'', "brother of Yah"; Latin and Douay–Rheims: Ahias) is a name of several biblical individuals: # Ahijah the Shilonite, the Biblical prophet who divided the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. # One of the sons of Bela (1 Chr ...

. She disguises herself, intending to conceal her identity, but Ahijah is informed by God that she is coming. As soon as she enters, therefore, he addresses her as the wife of Jeroboam, and tells her that the child will die. *In the deuterocanonical

Book of Tobit The Book of Tobit () ''Tōbith'' or ''Tōbit'' ( and spellings are also attested) itself from he, טובי ''Tovi'' "my good"; Book of Tobias in the Vulgate from the Greek ''Tōbias'', itself from the Hebrew ''Tovyah'' " Yah is good", also k ...

, Tobit loses his sight when sparrow droppings fall into his eyes. He becomes dependent on his wife, and prays for death, but God sends the angel

Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael (; or ; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. List of works by Raphael, His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of ...

in answer to his prayers. Raphael shows Tobit's son, Tobias, how to use the

gall Galls (from the Latin , 'oak-apple') or ''cecidia'' (from the Greek , anything gushing out) are a kind of swelling growth on the external tissues of plants, fungi, or animals. Plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of plant tissues, similar to be ...

of a fish to cure blindness; Tobias anoints his father's eyes with the gall, and he is healed. *In the Christian

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

, Jesus performs a miraculous healing of the blind on several occasions: **All three

synoptic gospels The gospels of Gospel of Matthew, Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Mark, and Gospel of Luke, Luke are referred to as the synoptic Gospels because they include many of the same stories, often in a similar sequence and in similar or sometimes identical ...

give an account of Jesus healing the blind near Jericho. In each of these stories, a blind beggar hears that Jesus is passing by, and cries out "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me". The crowd rebukes the beggar, but Jesus calls him forward and heals him with a word, or by touching his eyes. **In another story in the

Gospel of Mark The Gospel of Mark), or simply Mark (which is also its most common form of abbreviation). is the second of the four canonical gospels and of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells of the ministry of Jesus from his baptism by John the Baptist to h ...

, Jesus heals a

blind man of Bethsaida The Blind Man of Bethsaida is the subject of one of the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. It is found only in Mark 8:22-26.''The Miracles of Jesus'' by Craig Blomberg, David Wenham 2003 page 419 The exact location of Bethsaida in this pericope i ...

by rubbing spittle into his eyes. After the first application, his vision is still imperfect, but when Jesus places his hands over the man's eyes a second time, his sight is completely restored. **In the

Gospel of John The Gospel of John ( grc, Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ἰωάννην, translit=Euangélion katà Iōánnēn) is the fourth of the four canonical gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "sig ...

, Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth, which is said in the narrative to be the only time that such a thing had been done. The cure in this story is more complex; Jesus anoints the man's eyes with a mixture of clay and spittle, then tells him to wash them in the Pool of Siloam. Jesus later makes use of this miracle as a metaphor, explaining that he came into the world so that the blind might see, and condemning the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. * In Norse mythology, Höðr is a blind god, who is tricked by

Loki Loki is a god in Norse mythology. According to some sources, Loki is the son of Fárbauti (a jötunn) and Laufey (mentioned as a goddess), and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. Loki is married to Sigyn and they have two sons, Narfi or Na ...

into killing

Baldr Baldr (also Balder, Baldur) is a god in Germanic mythology. In Norse mythology, Baldr (Old Norse: ) is a son of the god Odin and the goddess Frigg, and has numerous brothers, such as Thor and Váli. In wider Germanic mythology, the god was kno ...

Literature and theatre

* In

Philip Sidney Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek language, Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philip ...

's 16th-century work ''

Arcadia Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...

'', the princes Pyrocles and Musidorus encounter an elderly blind man, who is entreating his son, Leonatus, to lead him to the top of a cliff so that he might throw himself off. The blind man was once a king, but he explains to the princes how he was persuaded by an illegitimate son, Plexirtus, to order the death of his other son, Leonatus. Plexirtus, believing Leonatus to be dead, then usurped the throne and put out his father's eyes. After hearing this story, Pyrocles and Musidorus help to defeat Plexirtus and install Leonatus on the throne, at which point the blind king dies suddenly from an excess of emotion. * A sub-plot of

's ''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane an ...

'' takes inspiration from the story of the blind king in ''Arcadia''. The Earl of Gloucester is betrayed by his illegitimate son Edmund, which eventually results in Gloucester's eyes being plucked out by Lear's daughter Regan and her husband. Having been turned out by Regan onto the heath, Gloucester encounters his first-born son Edgar, but doesn't recognise him, and asks him to lead him to a clifftop. Unwilling to do so, Edgar tricks Gloucester into believing himself to have fallen from a cliff and miraculously survived. When Edgar finally reveals his identity to his father, Gloucester suffers heart failure and dies. * ''

King Arthur King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a legendary king of Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In the earliest traditions, Arthur appears as a ...

'', a 17th-century opera by

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest E ...

and

John Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the per ...

, features a blind woman named Emmeline, who is engaged to

. Having been blind from birth, she is portrayed as having very confused ideas about the world—she is unaware, for instance, that there is any physical difference between herself and Arthur, and later expresses a belief that his face is made of gold. Her blindness is eventually cured through

Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...

's magic. * In

's 18th-century poem "

Tiriel ''Tiriel'' is a narrative poem by William Blake, written ''c.''1789. Considered the first of his prophetic books, it is also the first poem in which Blake used free septenaries, which he would go on to use in much of his later verse. ''Tirie ...

", the titular

goes blind with age and grief, blaming his condition on his rebellious sons. He delivers a curse which kills almost all of his children, and then commands his youngest and only surviving daughter, Hela, to lead him to the Vales of Har, where his own parents live. Upon arrival there, he curses his parents and dies at their feet. *''

The Man Who Laughs ''The Man Who Laughs'' (also published under the title ''By Order of the King'' from its subtitle in French) is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title ''L'Homme qui rit''. It takes place in England beg ...

'', an 1869 novel by

Victor Hugo Victor-Marie Hugo (; 26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885) was a French Romantic writer and politician. During a literary career that spanned more than sixty years, he wrote in a variety of genres and forms. He is considered to be one of the great ...

, features a blind girl named Dea. * In ''

Mithyabhiman ''Mithyabhiman'' (; English: ''False Pride'') is an 1871 Gujarati play by Indian writer Dalpatram. Considered to be a milestone in Gujarati literature, it holds an important place among the comic plays in the history of Gujarati drama. The pla ...

'', an 1871 comic play in the

Gujarati language Gujarati (; gu, ગુજરાતી, Gujarātī, translit-std=ISO, label=Gujarati script, ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Indian state of Gujarat and spoken predominantly by the Gujarati people. Gujarati is descended from Old Gu ...

, the protagonist's attempts to conceal his

nyctalopia Nyctalopia (; ), also called night-blindness, is a condition making it difficult or impossible to see in relatively low light. It is a symptom of several eye diseases. Night blindness may exist from birth, or be caused by injury or malnutrition ( ...

(night-blindness) involves him in a series of difficult situations. * '' Marianela'' is an 1878 Spanish novel by

Benito Pérez Galdós Benito Pérez Galdós (May 10, 1843 – January 4, 1920) was a Spanish Spanish Realist literature, realist novelist. He was the leading literary figure in 19th-century Spain, and some scholars consider him second only to Miguel de Cervantes ...

, in which a blind boy falls in love with an unattractive girl, who is afraid to meet him when he recovers his sight. * "

The Country of the Blind "The Country of the Blind" is a short story by English writer H. G. Wells. It was first published in the April 1904 issue of ''The Strand Magazine'' and included in a 1911 collection of Wells's short stories, ''The Country of the Blind and Ot ...

" by

H. G. Wells Herbert George Wells"Wells, H. G."
Revised 18 May 2015. ''

Max Carrados Max Carrados is a fictional blind detective in a series of mystery stories and books by Ernest Bramah, first published in 1914. George Orwell wrote that, together with those of Doyle and R. Austin Freeman, ''Max Carrados'' and ''The Eyes of Max ...

is a fictional blind detective created by

Ernest Bramah Ernest Bramah (20 March 186827 June 1942), the pseudonym of Ernest Brammah Smith, who was an English author. He published 21 books and numerous short stories and features. His humorous works were often ranked with Jerome K. Jerome and W. W. Jac ...

, appearing in several works published between 1914 and 1934. * In

Samuel Beckett Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish novelist, dramatist, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. His literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal and tragicomic expe ...

's play '' Waiting for Godot'', the character of Pozzo is struck blind between the first and second acts. * In John Wyndham's 1951 novel '' The Day of the Triffids'', a large proportion of the world's population becomes blind overnight, after witnessing an unusual meteor shower. This deprives humanity of its one advantage over the poisonous ambulatory plants known as triffids, and leads to an apocalyptic breakdown of society. * '' Butterflies Are Free'' is a 1969 play by

Leonard Gershe Leonard Gershe (June 10, 1922 – March 9, 2002) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and lyricist. Born in New York City, Gershe made his Broadway debut as a lyricist for the 1950 revue '' Alive and Kicking''. He wrote the book for Harold Ro ...

, about a blind man's relationship with a free-spirited hippy, which was adapted into a 1972 movie. * In ''

The Cay ''The Cay'' is a teen novel written by Theodore Taylor. It was published in 1969. Taylor took only three weeks to write ''The Cay'', having contemplated the story for over a decade after reading about an 11-year-old who was aboard the Dutch shi ...

'', a 1969 teen novel by Theodore Taylor, a blind boy is stranded on an island following a shipwreck. * In

Frank Herbert Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel '' Dune'' and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked a ...

's ''

Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...

'' series, the character of

Paul Atreides Paul Atreides (; later known as Paul Muad'Dib, and later still as The Preacher) is a fictional character in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. Paul is the primary protagonist in the first two novels in the series, ''Dune'' (1965) ...

is blinded by exposure to radiation, but retains the ability to see by means of his precognitive powers. *'' The Parable of the Blind'' is an 1985 German novel by

Gert Hofmann Gert Hofmann (29 January 1931 – 1 July 1993) was a German writer and professor of German literature. Life Hofmann was born and grew up in Limbach-Oberfrohna, Limbach, Saxony (Germany) which, after World War II, became part of East Germany. ...

, about six blind men who serve as models for the Pieter Bruegel painting ''

The Blind Leading the Blind "The blind leading the blind" is an idiom and a metaphor in the form of a parallel phrase, it is used to describe a situation where a person who knows nothing is getting advice and help from another person who knows almost nothing. History The ...

''. * The plot of '' Asuryalok'', a 1987 Gujarati novel by

Bhagwatikumar Sharma Bhagwatikumar Sharma (31 May 1934 – 5 September 2018) was an Indian author and journalist who wrote in Gujarati. Born in Surat and educated in languages, he edited a daily for several years. He wrote novels, short stories, poetry, essays and c ...

, revolves around a family's hereditary blindness. * ''

How Late It Was, How Late ''How late it was, how late'' is a 1994 stream-of-consciousness novel written by Scottish writer James Kelman. The Glasgow-centred work is written in a working-class Scottish dialect, and follows Sammy, a shoplifter and ex-convict. It won the ...

'', a 1994 novel by James Kelman, focuses on the struggle of a working-class ex-convict to cope with a sudden onset of blindness. * ''

Blindness Visual impairment, also known as vision impairment, is a medical definition primarily measured based on an individual's better eye visual acuity; in the absence of treatment such as correctable eyewear, assistive devices, and medical treatment� ...

'', a 1995 Portuguese novel by

José Saramago José de Sousa Saramago, GColSE ComSE GColCa (; 16 November 1922 – 18 June 2010), was a Portuguese writer and recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Literature for his "parables sustained by imagination, compassion and irony ith which heco ...

, depicts the social breakdown which follows an epidemic of blindness. * '' The Insult'' is a 1996 novel by

Rupert Thomson Rupert Thomson, FRSL (born November 5, 1955) is an English writer. He is the author of thirteen critically acclaimed novels and an award-winning memoir. He has lived in many cities around the world, including Athens, Berlin, New York, Sydney, L ...

, in which a blind man insists that he is able to see. * '' Sound of Colors'', a 2001 Taiwanese children's book by

Jimmy Liao Jimmy Liao (; pen name: , ; born 15 November 1958) is a Taiwanese illustrator as well as a picture book writer. His Chinese pen name, 幾米, is phonetically derived from his English given name Jimmy. Biography After graduating from Chinese Cultu ...

, explores the thoughts of a blind girl travelling on the subway. * ''

The Million Dollar Putt ''The Million Dollar Putt'' is a realistic fiction novel written by Dan Gutman in 2006. It is about a young blind child's quest to learn golf and win a million dollar prize. Plot Edward Bogard ("Bogie" for short) is a 13-year-old blind boy ...

'' is a 2006 children's novel by

Dan Gutman Dan Gutman (born October 19, 1955) is an American writer, primarily of children's fiction. His works include the '' Baseball Card Adventures'' children's book series that began with '' Honus & Me'', and the '' My Weird School'' series. Early li ...

, in which a blind teenager takes part in a golf tournament. * '' Massage'' is a 2008 Chinese novel by Bi Feiyu, about blind masseurs. *''

All the Light We Cannot See ''All the Light We Cannot See'' is a 2014 war novel that was written by American author Anthony Doerr. The novel is set during World War II and centers around the characters Marie-Laure Leblanc, a blind French girl who takes refuge in her uncl ...

'', a 2014 novel by

Anthony Doerr Anthony Doerr (born October 27, 1973) is an American author of novels and short stories. He gained widespread recognition for his 2014 novel ''All the Light We Cannot See'', which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Early life and education Rais ...

, tells the story of a blind French girl during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Non-fiction

* "

When I Consider How My Light is Spent "When I Consider How My Light is Spent" (Also known as "On His Blindness") is one of the best known of the sonnets of John Milton (1608–1674). The last three lines are particularly well known; they conclude with "They also serve who only stand a ...

", a 17th-century sonnet by

John Milton John Milton (9 December 1608 – 8 November 1674) was an English poet and intellectual. His 1667 epic poem '' Paradise Lost'', written in blank verse and including over ten chapters, was written in a time of immense religious flux and political ...

, is thought to be a reflection on his loss of sight. * Helen Keller wrote several autobiographical works, beginning with ''

The Story of My Life The Story of My Life or Story of My Life may refer to: Literature * ''The Story of My Life'' (biography), a 1903 autobiography by Helen Keller * ''Story of My Life'' (novel), 1988 novel by Jay McInerney * ''Histoire de ma vie'' (''Story of my l ...

'' in 1903 (which inspired a 1959 Broadway play, ''

The Miracle Worker ''The Miracle Worker'' refers to a broadcast, a play and various other adaptations of Helen Keller's 1903 autobiography '' The Story of My Life''. The first of these works was a 1957 ''Playhouse 90'' broadcast written by William Gibson and st ...

''). *''

A Girl and Five Brave Horses ''A Girl and Five Brave Horses'' is a memoir by Sonora Webster Carver published in 1961. At the age of 20, Sonora Webster Carver joined William Frank Carver's Wild West Show which featured diving horses and performed at Atlantic City's Steel Pie ...

'' is a 1961 memoir by

Sonora Webster Carver Sonora Webster Carver (February 2, 1904 September 20, 2003), born in Waycross, Georgia, was an American entertainer, most notable as one of the first female Diving horse, horse divers. Life Webster answered an ad placed by William Frank Carver, ...

, a blind horse diver. *''If You Could See What I Hear'' is a 1975 book by blind musician Tom Sullivan, which was adapted into a 1982 movie. * ''

A Sense of the World ''A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man became History's Greatest Traveler'' is a bestselling biography of James Holman (1786–1857), the blind Englishman who overcame the adversity of sightlessness to become a world traveler and cultural commen ...

'', by Jason Roberts, is a 2006 biography of the 19th-century British traveller

James Holman James Holman FRS (15 October 1786 – 29 July 1857), known as the "Blind Traveller," was a British adventurer, author and social observer, best known for his writings on his extensive travels. Completely blind and experiencing pain and limi ...

, the first blind person to circumnavigate the globe.

Art

Film and television

* ''

City Lights ''City Lights'' is a 1931 American silent romantic comedy film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The story follows the misadventures of Chaplin's Tramp as he falls in love with a blind girl (Virginia Cherrill) and ...

'' is a 1931

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

film in which "The Tramp" falls in love with a blind girl. * '' The Tale of Zatoichi'' is a 1962 film about a blind masseur and swordsman (the first in a series of 26 films starring the character of Zatoichi). * ''

A Patch of Blue ''A Patch of Blue'' is a 1965 American drama film directed by Guy Green about the friendship between an educated black man (played by Sidney Poitier) and an illiterate, blind, white 18-year-old girl (played by Elizabeth Hartman), and the problem ...

'' is a 1965 film about the friendship between an educated black man and an illiterate, blind, white girl. * ''

Tommy Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...

'' is a 1975 film adaptation of a rock opera by

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

, about a boy who is psychosomatically deaf, mute, and blind. *'' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', a 1987–1994 TV series, features blind character Geordi La Forge, who makes use of technological devices that allow him to see. * "

Many, Many Monkeys "Many, Many Monkeys" is an episode of the television series ''The Twilight Zone'', first broadcast in 1989. The episode was written in 1964 for the final season of the original ''The Twilight Zone'' series by producer William Froug, but though C ...

" is a 1989 episode of ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, su ...

'', in which an epidemic of blindness is described as a judgement upon society for "turning a blind eye" to the sufferings of others. * ''

Proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a con ...

'' is a 1991 film about a blind photographer, who distrusts other people's descriptions of the world around him. *'' Scent of a Woman'', a 1992 remake of a 1974 Italian film, is about a student who takes a job as an assistant to an irritable blind man. *''

Colors of the Blind ''Colors of the Blind'' is a 1997 Chinese drama film directed and co-produced by Chen Guoxing, starring Tao Hong as a blind girl training to become a competitive sprinter. The script was written by Wan Fang. At the time of filming, Tao Hong was ...

'' is a 1997 Chinese film about a blind girl training to become a competitive sprinter. *''

Ray Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (g ...

'' is a 2004 biographical film which focuses on 30 years in the life of blind musician

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

. *''

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

'' is a 2005 film about a deafblind woman's relationship with her teacher. *'' Avatar: The Last Airbender'', a 2005–2008 TV series, features blind character Toph Beifong. *'' Love and Honor'' is a 2006 Japanese film about a blind samurai. *'' Blind'' is a 2011 South Korean film in which a blind woman helps to track down a murderer. *''

What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love ''What They Don't Talk About When They Talk About Love'' ( id, Yang Tidak Dibicarakan Ketika Membicarakan Cinta, stylized in all lowercase) is a 2013 Indonesian drama film written and directed by Mouly Surya. The film stars Nicholas Saputra, Ayush ...

'' is a 2013 Indonesian film about two visually impaired teenage girls in search of love. *'' Blind'' is a 2014 film about a blind woman who succumbs to paranoia. *''

Don't Breathe ''Don't Breathe'' is a 2016 American horror-thriller film produced and directed by Fede Álvarez, co-produced by Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert, and co-written by Álvarez and Rodo Sayagues. The film stars Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatt ...

'' is a 2016 horror film, in which three friends get trapped inside a blind man's house while breaking into it. *''

Notes on Blindness ''Notes on Blindness'' is a 2016 British documentary film directed by Peter Middleton and James Spinney. The film profiles writer and theologian John M. Hull, who became totally blind after decades of steadily deteriorating vision. To help him m ...

'' is a 2016 documentary film about

John M. Hull John Martin Hull (22 April 1935 – 28 July 2015) was Emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University of Birmingham. He was the author of a number of books and many articles in the fields of religious education, practical theology an ...

, blind theologian and author of ''Touching the Rock: An Experience of Blindness''. *'' In the Dark'' is a 2019 TV series about a blind woman attempting to solve a murder. *''

See See or SEE may refer to: * Sight - seeing Arts, entertainment, and media * Music: ** ''See'' (album), studio album by rock band The Rascals *** "See", song by The Rascals, on the album ''See'' ** "See" (Tycho song), song by Tycho * Television * ...

'' is a 2019 science-fiction TV series, set in a post-apocalyptic world in which the human race has lost the sense of sight.

Other media

*Several blind characters have been created by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

, including

Daredevil Daredevil may refer to: * A stunt performer Arts and media Comics * Daredevil (Lev Gleason Publications), a fictional 1940s superhero popularized by writer-artist Charles Biro * Daredevil (Marvel Comics character), a Marvel comic book superher ...

Blind Al Blind Al is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is commonly depicted as a supporting character of the antihero Deadpool. Al (also known as Althea or Blind Alfred) first appeared in ''Deadpool'' ...

, Blindfold, Destiny,

Madame Web Madame Web (Cassandra Webb) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appeared in ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #210, published November 1980, and was created by writer Denny O'Neil and artist J ...

, and Julia Carpenter. *Blind characters created by

DC Comics DC Comics, Inc. (doing business as DC) is an American comic book publisher and the flagship unit of DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC Comics is one of the largest and oldest American comic book companies, with thei ...

include Doctor Mid-Nite and Crazy Quilt. * Kenshi Takahashi is a blind swordsman created for the ''

Mortal Kombat ''Mortal Kombat'' is an American media franchise centered on a series of video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992. The development of the first game was originally based on an idea that Ed Boon and John Tobias had of making a v ...

'' video game series.

Literature and theatre

Non-fiction

Art

Film and television

Other media

Notes

Further reading