Feral Children Essay

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Feral Children: From Savage to Civil Feral children are secluded from all human civilization and contact for a long period of time. One may see them as savages. In the novel Lord of the Flies, the boys stranded among the island become feral in a way. They are isolated from all human civilization and resort to savagery, very similar to most documented cases of feral children (Never). After being segregated from human contact for a long period of time, a feral child can become a civilized member of society. They can do this by developing social aspects of human life but it is assumed difficult because of the experiences they face and the brain damage that may occur during the isolation years. The capability for the child to become what we consider “human” is still there. Wild children are socially able to show empathy to the people surrounding them. Feral children are capable of showing empathy to the people around them, which is a quality that only humans can show (Wild Child). In the case of Victor, he was taken in by surgeon Jean-Marc Itard and his house keeper. In the beginning things are tough for the three of them, but Victor began to show a large amount of progress socially (Never). One day, Victor saw the house keeper tearing up. He comprehended what was happening and tried to comfort her. Showing empathy towards others is considered one quality that only human obtain (Wild Child). The fact that a feral child can develop this ability shows that it is possible for these children to become a civilized human. These youth can also establish relationships with the people around them. Genie, a girl who had been abused and confined to a room for 13 years was still able to create a close bond with the scientists, social workers, and doctors that had been looking into her case (Wild Child). Although relationships can be developed in the animal world as well,
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