Parson Woodforde -“Sister Jane visited me… she being deaf and I not able to speak…”
By H Dominic W Stiles, on 4 January 2019
In The Diary of a Country Parson, 1758-1802, that is the diary of Parson Woodforde, we find there is the following comment, illustrative of the portrayal of Deaf people in writing –
1769 Dec. 26. I was very bad in my throat all night, but towards the morning was rather better, only extremely hoarse. . . I could not go to read Prayers this morning at Cary though it was St. Stephen, which I hope will be forgiven. . . . Sister Jane visited me this morning, and she being deaf and I not able to speak, was good company. . .
It would make an interesting research project, to consider how people regardeded deafness historically, particularly as a subject for humour.