The Miracle Worker (play)

The Miracle Worker is a play by William Gibson, based on his 1957 Playhouse 90 television play of the same name. The play tells the story of Anne Sullivan's struggle to teach the young, blind, and deaf Helen Keller to communicate.

Plot Summary: The play opens with the discovery that 19-month-old Helen Keller has lost her sight and hearing. As Helen grows, she becomes increasingly frustrated and uncontrollable, isolating herself and her family. Desperate, Helen's parents, Captain Arthur Keller and Kate Keller, hire Anne Sullivan, a young woman who herself was visually impaired.

Anne arrives at the Keller home and immediately clashes with Helen and Captain Keller. Anne believes that to reach Helen, she must have complete control over her, teaching her discipline and language through touch. A central conflict arises over the simple act of Helen eating from her own plate with a spoon, a struggle that culminates in a prolonged and physically intense battle of wills in the dining room.

Anne eventually persuades the Kellers to allow her to live alone with Helen in the garden house. There, Anne begins to make progress, teaching Helen words through finger-spelling. The breakthrough comes when Helen connects the word "water" with the sensation of water flowing over her hand. With this realization, Helen understands that everything has a name, and she is finally able to connect with the world around her. The play concludes with Helen learning to spell and understand many more words, and with a newfound bond between Helen and Anne.

Characters:

• Helen Keller: A young girl who is blind and deaf.
• Anne Sullivan: Helen's teacher, who herself was visually impaired.
• Captain Arthur Keller: Helen's father, a former Confederate officer.
• Kate Keller: Helen's mother.
• James Keller: Arthur's son from a previous marriage.
• Viney: The Keller family's cook.
• Aunt Ev: Captain Keller's sister.

Themes:

• Communication: The central theme of the play is the power of communication and the importance of connecting with others.
• Disability: The play explores the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the importance of understanding and acceptance.
• Perseverance: Both Anne and Helen demonstrate extraordinary perseverance in their efforts to overcome obstacles.
• Willpower: The play highlights the power of human willpower to achieve seemingly impossible goals.
• Education: The play emphasizes the transformative power of education.

Productions and Adaptations:

• The play premiered on Broadway in 1959, starring Anne Bancroft as Anne Sullivan and Patty Duke as Helen Keller. It won the Tony Award for Best Play.
• A film adaptation of the play was released in 1962, starring the same actresses. Bancroft and Duke both won Academy Awards for their performances.
• There have been numerous revivals of the play on Broadway and in regional theaters.
• The story has also been adapted for television, including a 1979 television movie.