mental retardation theme
There is a person who suffers from a neurodevelopmental disorder so severe that they have a significantly lower IQ (technically below 70) and problems with adaptive behavior that make their everyday living problematic.
Notes
This theme may be included in stories that clearly explore actual as well as borderline intellectual disability even if it is not clear that the technical definition of that condition are fulfilled. It may also be included in stories that parody or mischaracterize the condition.
Examples
In tz1985e2x05 "The Toys of Caliban", we saw an elderly married couple who were raising their intellectually disabled son Toby in seclusion because he had a dangerous magical ability but no self-restraint or sense to conduct himself safely with his power.
7 total · 6 major · 1 minor
| Story | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| ahp7x39 | major | Hugo was a mentally retarded boy who had escaped from the (unspecified) institution in which he had been living. |
| movie: Charly (1968) | major | The intellectually challenged adult Charly underwent a surgical procedure that tripled his IQ. |
| movie: Flowers for Algernon (2000) | major | The intellectually challenged man Charly underwent a surgical procedure that boosted his intelligence to genius levels. |
| movie: Of Mice and Men (1939) | major | The film concerns George and Lennie. George took care of Lennie, who was intellectually disabled. |
| tftc1989e5x05 | major | Virgil was dimwitted to the point of probable mental retardation. |
| tz1985e2x05 | major | An elderly married couple were raising a mentally challenged child. |
| ahh2x17 | minor | The town dullard Juke reported that he had the mind of a 10-year-old according to his physician. |