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How Does Annie Sullivan's Ability To Receive Helen?

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Imagine not being able to communicate with others, not being able to see or hear. A young girl, named Helen Keller, had to deal with the frustration of not being able to communicate from an early age. Helen contracted an illness, called brain fever, that lead her inabilities to hear and see. Her family was confused and without much medical assistance, her mother, father, and brother raised her with minimal discipline. At age six, they decided to enlist the help of a woman named Annie Sullivan, who was visually impaired herself. Annie had to raise Helen to become more aware of her surroundings and herself. Annie’s history shaped her ability to teach Helen efficiently and successfully. Annie could understand Helen and her struggles, which made …show more content…

She showed that she was stubborn, but she used her tenacious spirit to push Helen because she knew she was smart. She was relentless in standing her ground with Helen’s family. For example, in Act Three, she demanded she work with Helen an additional week without the family’s presence. This was demonstrated when she said, “She has to learn that everything has a name! That words can be her eyes, to everything in the world outside her, and inside too,”(Gibson 691). This statement exemplifies how she was persistent in everything she did. She also demonstrated how strong-willed she was when her and Helen fought at breakfast when she tried to establish table manners. Helen was accustomed to eating off of her family’s plates, and in response to Kate’s pleads Annie stated, “Yes, but I’m not accustomed to it,”(Gibson 666). Throughout this fight, Annie persevered and stood her ground with Helen and her family. Annie stays persistent throughout her battles with Helen and her …show more content…

During that time, her younger brother Jimmie died and she felt morally responsible for his death. Due to this experience, Annie still had a sense of failure and guilt. She was always trying to exceed expectations for her brother. Throughout her time with the Kellers, Annie would have flashbacks of being at the institution whenever she felt as though she was failing. The guilty that resided in her motivated her to teach Helen successfully. For example, after having to fight Helen, Annie heard her brother’s voice taunting her. “You said we’ll be together, forever and ever and ever… ,”(Gibson 675). This quote exemplifies the haunting messages that motivated Annie to get through to Helen and connect with her. Towards the end of the play, the haunting messages ceased once Helen began to communicate, signaling that Annie was free from her

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