A Man Who Had No Eyes

The motif of dirtiness and cleanliness develops the theme of Appearance Versus Reality. The attire and demeanor of the two men symbolize their character traits. Mr. Parsons is refined, dressed in an “immaculate gray suit and gray hat” (Paragraph 8). He carries a Malacca stick, which is comparatively more sophisticated and well-made than Markwardt’s “battered cane.” When contrasted against Markwardt’s shabby and dirty appearance, Mr. Parsons’s dressing style reflects not only his wealth but also his virtuous nature. The narrator repeatedly refers to Markwardt as the “shabby fellow” and uses his unkempt appearance to foreground his deceitful and non-virtuous character. This contrast is further evident when Markwardt’s “dirty hand” (Paragraph 15) groping Mr. Parsons’s coat is juxtaposed with his attempt to manipulate Mr. Parsons by narrating his tragic accident. Markwardt’s shabbiness also signifies his resignation, in contrast to Mr. Parsons’s perseverance.

In the story, “insurance” becomes symbolic of individual choices and human agency. As the story commences, Mr. Parsons takes stock of his success:

A few years ago he had been little more than a skilled laborer; how he was successful, respected, admired…Insurance…And he had done it alone, unaided, struggling beneath handicaps…and he was still young (Paragraph 3).

There are hints that Mr. Parsons is a successful insurance seller. A few lines later, while narrating his tragic story, Markwardt bitterly mentions that the capitalist owners of his factory did not care to insure their workers. As a result, workers like him, who were injured in the accident, were left destitute. Mr. Parsons responds by attempting to say he sells insurance, but he is cut short by Markwardt. Thus, for Mr. Parsons, insurance is the business that affords him success and affluence. It represents his hard work and refusal to succumb to adversities. To Markwardt, a lack of insurance becomes an excuse for justifying his poverty and destitution. He blames the capitalists for his downfall. Ironically, Mr. Parsons, who was also an uninsured worker who lost his eyesight, by dint of his will and effort transitions from the working class to the capitalist class.