“Subcortical” by Lee Connell is a tale that reflects the problems faced by the narrator, Joyce, who is burdened with judgment and human complexity. The tale happens in an ethically opaque environment where characters confront moral struggles and try to fulfill both their desires and social expectations. Sometimes, only at first glance, the character’s actions seem to be unacceptable; nevertheless, a closer look will discover a complicated web of morals, desires and social expectations. This paper attempts to examine variations in which characters act and if there is any role that ethics plays in influencing them to make their own decisions. This essay will seek to bring to the fore the multifaceted layers of morality and ethical dilemmas in the work “Subcortical” through the application of relevant text-based insights and critical analysis.Despite the apparent absence of ethical guidance in the characters’ behaviors in Lee Connell’s “Subcortical,” a deeper examination unveils a complex interplay of moral principles, personal motivations, and societal expectations, shaping their actions and decisions.
In “Subcortical,” Joyce has an affair with a married doctor who is doing research with the controversial aim of changing sexual orientation. In the beginning, the reasons that Joyce gives seem to be more practical and based on the situation rather than on good and integrity. ” He pointed out, very tenderly, the deep brain and surface electrodes, his finger pads leaving sheeny traces of grease on the photograph,” she says, implying that their relationship was far from an emotional one. The exchange shows the two of them trading money for a promise to follow the rules (Connell, para. 1). On the other hand, the doctor is greedy and insincere, wholly focused on achieving his targets rather than what is right. This picture shows the intricate ethical dilemma in their bonding, where the profit motive supersedes personal and professional virtues.
The core moral issue of the story concerns the way in which the doctor uses Patient C, a young man with a sexual orientation different from the norm, as a test subject for the experimental procedures he is conducting to change his sexual orientation. The doctor has a selfish motive in the way he uses Patient C against the patient’s own will for his scientific goals. This is made clear when the doctor talks about Patient C’s progress and only thinks about how he can get professional praise: ” You figure that out, you program the boy back the way nature intended, stimulate the subcortical sites… Name in the history books.” (Connell, para. 8). This lack of empathy in medical study brings about the ethical dilemmas and an important need for doctors to put the well-being of their patients over their gains.
Joyce’s moral uncertainty gradually develops during the process as she becomes deeply associated with the doctor’s unethical character. At first, she is not ready, but she is attracted to the information and cash, which makes her go for it, and she doesn’t think about morality. The section shows the author’s inner dilemma as she attempts to come to terms with her actions while at the same time battling guilt and uncertainty. This inner fight is shown when she thinks back on her choice to have a sexual encounter with Patient C: ” When he held out the money to me, I breathed in deeply. The hotel smelled like apples. Outside were rooftops, a collection of water towers… I took the money. I placed the bills carefully into my wallet. I thought subcortical subcortical subcortical. A new word to understand. A new understanding.” In this text, playwright Connell shows Joyce’s inner kindle because she takes from the doctor, which is a metaphor for how she is more engaged in the doctor’s immoral practice (Connell, para. 3). Joyce’s actions undercover the conflict of her desire to have personal gain and her moral character. The fact that she risks participation in the doctor’s experiment by going beyond the right thing to do at school and what is wrong means that she has crossed a line. The personal goal draws the example of social pressure, and then it isn’t very easy. The story of Mr. Duffy represents a warning to the readers to demonstrate how difficult it is to cope with moral challenges and how important it is to stay true to their morals even when others try to change their minds.
Furthermore, the story represents how the people at that time suggested people who were gay or had non-binary gender identities. The doctor’s grim attempts to “cure” homosexuality reveal that these fundamental misunderstandings are based on his biases and ignorance about gender identity and sexual orientation. The only motivation that he possesses is the need to carry out his duties as the Dictator without any consideration for morality or other people’s freedom. They replace individuality with the norms and standards imbued by society. It is not surprising that the doctor later on tells Joyce about his research and says, ” You figure that out, you program the boy back the way nature intended,” which is a look into the thoughts of society about an abnormality in behavior (Connell, para. 8). Likewise, Joyce’s acceptance to the doctor’s unethical experiments is the reflection of her internalized homophobia which is this highlights how the people’s communal feelings influence their actions and how they make moral choices.
In summary, “Subcortical” is a multi-dimensional, morally complicated, and ethical dilemma-burdened presentation of medical and personal relationship issues. The story examines how each character’s objectives, social attitudes, and moral considerations can influence one another, specifically through the characters of Joyce and the doctor. Sometimes, the character’s actions may be very far from moral standards, but when you look at it from a close distance, you will notice that moral conflicts perfectly reflect their state of mind. The story leaves one with the thought about what moral duties people and organizations have when they face ethical dilemmas and supports the principles of fairness and honesty.
Work Cited
Connell, L. (n.d.). Subcortical. file:///C:/Users/Admin/Downloads/subcortical%20Lee%20Connell%20(1).pdf
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