Illiteracy in America

In last week's assigned chapters of The Reader by Bernhard Schlink, the narrator Michael finally realizes Hanna's big, shameful secret. Hanna, a grown woman, has lived her life hiding her illiteracy, and running at even the slightest chance that it would be discovered (i.e. a promotion that requires her to read).

In this article on Huffington Post, illiteracy in the U.S is discussed, as is the shocking fact that 32 million adults in America are illiterate. The article references the benefits of literacy, stating that it gives one "economic security, access to health care, and the ability to actively participate in civic life". Are these rights that Hanna was deprived of? Although the book doesn't mention health care, it does draw upon Hanna's economic situation, and her struggles in civic life, both of which due to her illiteracy. 


The article also discusses the connection between illiteracy and crime, which directly relates to the book. Hanna committed a crime in taking the job as a guard, selecting who to send to Auschwitz, and refraining from unlocking the burning church. And what exactly brought her to take the job as a guard? A promotion that she ran from, that would have exposed her illiteracy. In relation to this, the article later cites what I find to be a very powerful statistic, that over 70 percent of American inmates can't read above a fourth grade level. This statistic shows the connection literacy has to well being, as these prisoners were led down crime ridden paths and now reside in cells, and reminds us that literacy is truly one of the best abilities to have. 

To take a personal stance, what do you think life would be like unable to read above a fourth grade level? What are your takes on these statistics?