For my research project, I want to ask the questions how does the ‘dark’ humor and alcoholism or Callahan’s other problems in the novel help portray disability in a realistic light. Firstly, Callahan has other issues besides being a quadriplegic but he focuses on that being the source of his problems for a portion of the book only to come to an understanding the plethora of other problems that inhibit him from living a fulfilling life. Of course, his disability should not be taken lightly, as it does cause him difficulty doing simple tasks that he earlier took for granted. But his deeper issues with alcoholism and how it affects him helps him develop a new faith in life.
His use of politically incorrect and possibly inappropriate humor sets