My Left Foot is the autobiographical novel written by the Irish author, painter, and poet Christy Brown in 1954.
In My Left Foot, Christy Brown recounts his ability to hold a pen with his left foot, the struggles of being unable to speak, and finding hope in life again with the help of his mother and father, as well as the people who assist him. The book emphasizes how obstacles can be overcome and highlights the importance of perseverance and support from others.
Summary Of My Left Foot
Christy Brown’s mother discovers that her son, despite being diagnosed with cerebral palsy and being deemed intellectually disabled by doctors, is actually different than they thought. Undeterred by the doctors’ prognosis, she resolves to do everything for her son without losing hope.
Aware of his condition, Christy Brown continues to observe his surroundings despite his inability to move his body. One day, while watching his sister do her homework with chalk, he suddenly grabs the chalk with his feet and begins to draw. This surprises everyone, including his mother, who sees renewed hope in him. She decides to teach him the alphabet, and Christy Brown draws the letter “A” with his bare foot for the first time.
In the following chapters, it is narrated how Christy Brown, with the help of his mother, learns the entire alphabet using his left foot. Drawing and learning with his foot marks a new beginning in his life. Christy Brown desires more and begins to learn words beyond the alphabet. He first calls his mother and shows her the first word he wrote, which is “MOTHER.”
Christy Brown continues to live entirely dependent on his left foot. However, he also has a dependent, which is a toy. It is a baby carriage. Using it with his siblings, he can go anywhere and enjoy life. This baby carriage is the only thing that connects him to the outside world. However, one day, the baby carriage breaks down and becomes unusable. Christy’s whole world collapses. While his siblings go outside without him, he can only watch them.
After some time, Christy’s mother buys him a new baby carriage, but life is not the same anymore. Christy grows up and becomes more perceptive of his surroundings. One day he sees himself in the mirror and does not like what he sees. Despite the new baby carriage, Christy no longer wants to go out and becomes more withdrawn.
New Year comes, and everyone opens their New Year presents. Christy is given toy soldiers, but he cannot help but notice the paints his sister received. He wants them more than anything else. One day, alone at home, he takes the paints and starts to paint. When his mother sees this, she helps him. Christy’s world changes once again. After a long time, he feels alive again.
Painting becomes Christy Brown’s greatest desire. However, he also witnesses love over time. However, it is a hopeless love, and he experiences it at a young age. He does not give up on love. He falls in love with a girl named Jenny from the neighborhood and sends her a note. In the note, he expresses his desire to draw her picture and invites her. This pleases the girl, and she spends time with Christy. However, over time, she also avoids him. Disappointed, Christy experiences the pain of love once again.
Over time, Christy withdraws into himself again. Painting no longer has the desired effect. He starts trying possible treatment options. He goes to France once and meets hopeful people there. However, he does not find what he hoped for.
He then starts physiotherapy with the help of a doctor, but in return, he is asked to give up the only thing he has. To be successful in physiotherapy, Christy must stop using his left foot. Christy agrees and starts physiotherapy. However, the house is too small, and the doctor cannot work comfortably with Christy. His mother steps in once again to help. She moves to a house with a garden with the money she has earned with difficulty. His mother succeeds once again.
While receiving treatment, Christy delves into new quests. One day, he sees his sister struggling to do her homework and comes up with an idea. He will say, he will write. Thus, Christy decides to write a book. But something is missing. He seeks the doctor’s help again, and the doctor teaches him how to write a book. Thus, Christy begins to write his autobiography.
Christy completes the first two chapters of his book, titled “The Letter A” and “MOTHER,” with the doctor’s efforts, and a charity event is organized. The doctor wants to read these two chapters on stage. Christy and his family are all very excited. Christy is on stage, and his parents are sitting in the front row. When the doctor finishes reading these two chapters, everyone is moved to tears and applauds standing. Christy Brown, who was thought to be intellectually disabled, is now both a painter and a writer.
