Literary Analysis Essay on The Blind Side by Lewis Michael

Introduction

The novel, The Blind Side by Lewis Michael, is not concentrated on many historical happenings but focuses on providing a sense for the crack scourge during the 1980s. Further, the book elucidates the moral decay that characterized the black urban communities during the same time. It is instructive to note that the use of substances like cocaine was prevalent among the black communities during the 1980s which led to increased criminal activities and child neglect. As illustrated in the book, The Blind Side, there was a significant transformation in the way football was played. The increased size and pace of rushers meant less time for the quarterbacks to pass the ball to their recipients (Lewis 112). Following the sacking and subsequent injury of Joe Theismann, coaches embarked on signing muscular left tackles to protect the blind side of quarterbacks. In cases where the left tackle failed in their obligation to protect the quarterbacks, there was the likelihood that the quarterback would face the same fate as Theismann.

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At the beginning of the 21st century when the left tackles were earning large sums of money; the resident of Memphis inner-city, Big Tony enrolled His son Steven and Michael Oher in Briarcrest Christian Academy. Big Tony took Michael because he had no family and he offered to provide him with education. The prestigious Briarcrest Academy admitted albeit reluctantly because he seemed highly talented in playing football (Bineham 236). The early life of Michael in school was punctuated with loneliness and happiness as he was a slow learner. Given his poor performance in class, he was not allowed to get into the sport just immediately. In a turn of events, he is seen by the school basketball coach, Sean Tuohy following the team's game. Sean grew up in a poor household and is considered a self-made millionaire (Lewis 125). Given his humble upbringing, he had a close relationship with black students from a poor background like Michael. Also, Leigh Anne Tuohy, Sean's wife was extremely kind to Michael, and she frequently buys him food and drives him around.

Michael made great effort and worked closely with his tutors with his mind fixed in playing basketball and football. He had pace and agility which was necessary for a basketball player, but he had a unique talent in playing football. Upon identifying himself as a football player, Leigh allows him to reside in her house (Bineham 230). Michael began receiving scholarship notably from Division I colleges after he began concentrating in playing football. After a short duration, he is adopted by the Tuohys as their child. He grew closer to Tuohys' children, Collins and Sean Junior. Understandably, Briarcrest football team registered significant improvement given the massive contribution by Michael. In his senior year made a great stride by winning the Championship of Tennessee and Michael was hugely considered as the best player of the tournament (Lewis 134). During Michael's final year, he was offered lucrative things including a tuition-free offer in different colleges. After narrowing his school options, he gets more interested in joining the University of Mississippi especially because Sue Mitchell, his tutor and the Tuohys are alumni of Ole Miss as the college was popularly known.

Michael has a lot of problems, but at the same time, he needs to improve on his grade so he can attend college on scholarship. Michael can improve his GPA through taking other courses; he improves above NCAA which is the minimum, and finally, he decides to attend Ole Miss and gets free room and board and getting free tuition at the same time (Lewis 154). Immediately after choosing Ole Miss, he gets involved in NCAA investigation, where someone had complained of him being adopted by the Tuohys since they were recruiting new talents to join Ole Miss. Sean then cooperates with Thompson who was sent by the NCAA to speak to both Sean and Michal, while Sean and Anne are both annoyed by the allegation of Michael being adopted. In his first year at Ole Miss, Michael separates himself from the rest while the whole team is not doing well. Sue persistently gives him support and Tuohys is building another house next to Mississippi campus to be closer to the adopted son (Bineham 239). By the time Turner makes immoral comments relating to sex about Anne and Collins, Michael gets in a violent exchange of words that lead to physical violent thereby hurting a child who was walking around; hence, he runs away.

As a result of his good luck and by the help of Anne and Sean, he regains his tranquility and returns to Ole Miss without any custody. It is not open if the author sees something wrong; he gets away with the mild community after fighting his teammate and hurting a child is unfair and may lead to him being right and invulnerability (Bineham 241). Briarcrest then receives several applications from the city kids. However, the school president does not want to accept any of them; other teachers think that his success will spread the gospel, but Michael is not the most candid advocate of Christianity (Lewis 157). As the book approaches the end, the author talks much about the family and the background of Michael; Denise his mother was addicted to drugs like cocaine and neglected the son. Michael could then look for his survival alone. At his childhood, Michael looked for his clothes and food only with support from his elder brothers. Michael was in a series of temporary homes at the age of eight then later sent to the hospital centre but where he disappeared to go live in Memphis.

Works Cited

Bineham, Jeffery L. "How the blind side blinds us: Postracism and the American dream." Southern Communication Journal80.3, 2015, pp. 230-245.

Lewis, Michael. The blind side: Evolution of a game. WW Norton & Company, 2007, pp. 112-267.