Post 24

Post 24

The Boys Next Door is a play written by Tom Griffin. It has four main characters who are mentally handicapped and live in a group home. Throughout they play there are small vignettes depicting their everyday interaction. Griffin unfolds each characters personality through the relationship they have with other characters. The peak of the story was when Barry’s father comes for a visit and Jack leaves the group home. The play even in its simplicity has a lot of underlying meaning. I think Griffin choose to write the play in a simple manner, because the point you come out with is simplicity. It is the simple things in life that we take for granted. As people, that are mentally disabled like the characters in the play were, we seem to overlook just a simple friendship that’s always been there, or not struggling to read like Lucien did. This play puts a focus on living life to fullest and not missing out of any of life’s small pleasures. These ideas were reaffirmed in my heart when a group of us went to Alliance For Independence. Which is a school/ facilitation that helps mentally disabled people learn how to become independent. My trip to AFI was not my first time there; it was actually my second time. I actually enjoyed going the second time more, because I got an even better understanding of the need of these people. I work with mentally handicapped children, and going to AFI showed me where they could be going in their future. These people are not stupid or dumb, but simply normal having a harder time to function in society as normal. I really learned that in my job I not only am helping children, but I am preparing them to be independent. Because I think in the end everyone deserves that freedom. Independence gives someone a sense of accomplishment and purpose it gives them life. And I think this is what Griffin play was trying to show that everyone needs to enjoy their life and not take for granted the little things, that some people aren’t even fortunate enough to have.