Critical Thinking – Spring 2011
In, “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” by Jean-Dominique Bauby, the diving bell is Bauby's dreadful physical limitations and the butterfly represents his fertile imagination. With flashbacks of his life, we see him as a fully functioning person at work and at home. These scenes enhance the tragedy of his situation.
The diving bell is Bauby’s body which is like a dead weight. Jean compares his “locked in syndrome,” to being trapped in a diving bell. A diving bell was used prior to the invention of scuba diving equipment. This device looked like a large bell, which was lowered into the water by a tether. Water pressure was used to keep air in the bell so that those inside can breathe. Those inside were limited in their movements because moving would cause for losing air supply. “My hands, lying curled on the yellow sheets are hurting, although I can’t tell if they are burning hot or ice cold.” (pg. 5) “So it is likely that several years will go by before I can expect to wiggle my toes…But for now, I would be the happiest of men if I could just swallow the overflow of saliva that endlessly floods my mouth.” (pg. 12) Bauby realizes his actual state when he stares at a stained glass image of the wife of Napole’on III, Empress Euge’nie and notices an unknown face in the reflection. He sees a twisted mouth, damaged nose, one eye sewn shut, the other eye wide open. “For a moment I stared at that dilated pupil, before I realized it was only mine.” (pg. 25)
The butterfly is Bauby’s free spirit and imagination. Bauby said that his mind is like a butterfly. “My diving bell becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly.” (pg. 5) Bauby imagines being in the best restaurant in Paris. “Once, I was a master of recycling leftovers. Now I cultivate the art of simmering memories. You can sit down to a meal at any hour, with no fuss or ceremony. If it’s a restaurant, no need to call ahead. If I do the cooking, it is always a success…And indigestion is never a problem.” (pg. 36) Bauby also states, “And proof that I still want to be myself. If I must drool, I may as well drool on cashmere.” (pg. 17) This statement shows how far he has come from what he once was.
I think that an alternative title can be, “In a Blink of an Eye.” This may be a better title as it sums his situation up. Jean’s speech therapist, Sandrine establishes his blinking communication code. “You read off the alphabet (ESA version, not ABC) until, with a blink of my eye, I stop you at the letter to be noted.” (pg. 20) This is the only way that Bauby has any means of communicating from his world.
Bauby makes one feel that as long as there’s life, there’s hope. This extraordinary human being is actually comparing himself to the diving bell and the butterfly. He was a man that had it all and suddenly was unable to do anything but blink an eye. It’s frightening to think that he was able to write this book with just use of one eye. We can learn a great deal in life from this. Most of us have no excuse for being underachievers.