![]() ![]() Annie understands that she must see the world from Helen’s point of view in order to reach her. She sees Helen as a version of herself: a frightened and confused prisoner, “trapped” in her own mind in much the same way that Annie was trapped in the almshouse. Annie’s life experiences allow her to understand Helen in a way that nobody, including her parents and teachers, ever has. Later, Jimmie dies, leaving Annie to fend for herself. ![]() ![]() As a child, she and her beloved brother, Jimmie, were forced to live in a harsh, derelict almshouse (i.e., a shelter for the poor). Therefore, Annie remembers what it’s like to feel utterly alone in the world, and to feel trapped in her own mind. Annie spent much of her early life without the ability to see, but she regained her sight as an adult thanks to several special operations. Gibson suggests that part of the reason why Annie succeeds with Helen where other teachers have failed is that Annie’s own experience with blindness makes her able to identify with Helen’s condition in a way that Helen’s previous teachers could not. In short, The Miracle Worker isn’t just a play about words and communication-it’s about the twin processes of learning and teaching. Helen had teachers before Annie, but none of them was able to “get through” to her in the way that Annie can. By the end of the play, however, Helen has learned how to treat Annie with respect and, furthermore, to use language as a tool for educating herself about the world at large. Helen behaves wildly and shows no respect for Annie, since no one has been able to teach her how to behave herself. When Annie Sullivan meets Helen Keller for the first time, they don’t get along. ![]()
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