Abstract

The paper discusses the moral issues of Down syndrome families in The Memory Keeper’s Daughter: whether it is right to send an innocent baby with Down syndrome to an institution, hence giving a tranquil life to Down syndrome families. David’s gloomy childhood makes him think negatively about Down syndrome families. Also, being a doctor, David has been trained to be cold and detached to deal with Down syndrome cases. Even though with his own new-born Down syndrome daughter holding in his hands, he makes a decision to send her away to spare the family. The decision results in the lost of Phoebe and the break of David’s family.