Blindness – José Saramago: A Poetic Dystopia of Societal Collapse

Blindness – José Saramago: A Poetic Dystopia of Societal Collapse

IntroductionJosé Saramago’s Blindness (Ensaio sobre a Cegueira) is a striking dystopian novel that exposes the dark side of humanity and the fragility of civilization. Winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1998, Saramago tells the story of a society crumbling under a sudden epidemic of "white blindness." The book explores both the savage and compassionate aspects of human nature while taking readers on a profound journey through its poetic and thought-provoking prose.

Plot Summary: The Blindness Epidemic and the Descent into Chaos

The novel begins with a man suddenly going blind while waiting at a traffic light. This mysterious blindness quickly spreads, infecting even the stranger who tries to help him. In an attempt to control the outbreak, the government quarantines the blind in an abandoned mental asylum. However, this quarantine zone soon descends into inhumane conditions.

Among the quarantined, the doctor’s wife (unnamed) is the only one who retains her sight and becomes the group’s guide. The characters include an elderly man trying to adapt, a lustful blind man, and a woman with a child. Over time, hunger, fear, and power struggles bring out humanity’s most primal instincts.

Themes: Human Nature, Civilization, and Morality

1. The Fragility of Civilization

Saramago demonstrates how fragile modern society truly is. As soon as the blindness epidemic strikes, government authority collapses, crime surges, and people begin harming each other to survive—echoing Thomas Hobbes’ notion that "man is wolf to man."

2. Power and Exploitation

Inside the quarantine, a group of blind men who control the food supply enslave others. Women are sexually exploited in exchange for sustenance, illustrating how power corrupts and dehumanizes.

3. Kindness and Solidarity

Yet not everything is bleak. The doctor’s wife becomes the moral compass of the group. Her ability to see symbolizes hope, and Saramago balances humanity’s cruelty with its capacity for compassion.

4. Blindness as a Metaphor

The blindness is not just physical but moral and societal. People have grown indifferent to one another. Saramago seems to say, "The real blindness is not of the eyes, but of the soul."

Style: Punctuation-Free and Poetic Narration

One of Saramago’s most distinctive traits is his near-total absence of punctuation. Long sentences and unmarked dialogues create a dreamlike, chaotic stream of consciousness. This technique mirrors the theme of blindness—just as the blind navigate a world without sight, the reader navigates a narrative without clear pauses.

Blindness vs. Seeing: A Companion Novel

Saramago later wrote Seeing (Ensaio sobre a Lucidez), a sequel of sorts where the political system, not the people, goes "blind." Together, these books deepen Saramago’s critique of power and human nature.

Conclusion: Why Should You Read It?

Blindness is not just a dystopia but a profound mirror held up to humanity. Its themes of fear, isolation, and solidarity resonate eerily with real-life pandemic experiences. If you enjoyed 1984, Fahrenheit 451, or Lord of the Flies, this novel will leave a lasting impact.

"Perhaps true blindness is not the loss of sight, but the loss of humanity."

Happy reading! 📖✨

(Note: The book was adapted into a 2008 film by Fernando Meirelles.)