Analysis Of Andre Dubus 'Short Story Dancing After Hours'

In Andre Dubus’ short story, “Dancing After Hours”, Dubus crafts a wonderful portrayal of crip culture and the stereotypes of individuals in wheelchairs. While Dubus was a praised short story writer and autobiographer, his later works allowed him to posit his own story into his narratives. In 1986, Dubus was injured in a car accident and underwent amputation of his right leg . The loss of his left leg further rendered him wheelchair bound until his death at 62. His personal experience offered him a chilling perspective on disability in the modern era. Accordingly, Dubus designates that disability is not an “other” phenomenon by stressing the universal experience of being temporarily able-bodied, and how the disabled and non-disabled cope with

Sadly, Emily adopts the sense that her homely nature is her impairment and thus, lives accordingly to how society presumes individuals with disabilities do—introverted and uncomfortable. Society makes the assumption that disability implies mental problems as well. In some cases, there are intellectual and developmental disabilities, but that is not representative of the whole. Emily’s character perfectly exemplifies this flaw in society: “[She] hoped the man’s injury was not to his brain as well; she had a long shift ahead of her…and she did not want the embarrassment of trying to speak to someone and listen to someone whose body was anchored in a chair and whose mind was afloat.” She immediately demeans his entire self as if a mental disability is the worst thing that could possibly happen. Her comparison of a mental impairment diminishes such people to an animalistic or infantile status—“She knew she would speak to him like an infant or a dog.” Emily reduces Drew to his chair, rather than the enthusiastic and cheerful man that has a passion for living. She has never been helpless, saying that she would prefer death than to be in such a state. Yet, Drew’s lack of fragility brings to light the good qualities in Jeff—enlightening Emily to the possibility of escaping loneliness. Regrettably, Emily and Jeff represent the societal opinion that anyone in a helpless state could actually be happy. Fortunately, Emily acknowledges pain as an unavoidable supplement to a lived existence—Drew will not be able to dance on two feet again, but he can