Prejudice and Fear in America during the 1880s and 1950s

The Miracle Worker was composed in the United States during the late 1950s, a time when American society was on the cusp of significant transformation. The nation had recently experienced the paranoia of the McCarthy hearings, during which numerous theatre artists were accused of engaging in "un-American" activities or labeled as Communists. The mid-to-late 1950s also marked the onset of the Civil Rights movement in the southern U.S., particularly in Alabama, where The Miracle Worker is set. In the realm of American theatre, audiences had witnessed the disintegration of the American dream through the works of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. All these elements are woven into the fabric of The Miracle Worker in its structure, origin, and focus.

While The Miracle Worker does not directly address the paranoia of a potential Communist invasion or the civil rights struggles of African Americans in the 1950s, these issues contribute to an underlying theme of the play: prejudice and fear. The play highlights the prejudice and fear that stem from misunderstanding. The most evident example is the way the Kellers treat Helen. They use Helen's disability as an excuse to pity her and avoid disciplining her. The Kellers' fear and ignorance regarding Helen's condition lead them to underestimate her intelligence and treat her in a dehumanizing manner.

Prejudice is evident in Captain Keller's interactions with both Annie and Viney. The Miracle Worker takes place in the southern United States during the 1880s, shortly after the Reconstruction era following the Civil War. During this time, the South harbored resentment toward the North's policies and ideas, particularly regarding the treatment and rights of former slaves. This sentiment is portrayed in the play through Captain Keller's relationship with Viney. He is often curt with Viney and dismissive of her opinions on the changing dynamics in the Keller household after Annie's arrival. Viney exhibits a palpable fear of Captain Keller and is uncertain of her role in their relationship. The tension between the North and the South is further highlighted with Annie's introduction, as she hails from the North. Captain Keller immediately asserts his Southern identity during a discussion about the Battle of Vicksburg with his son James at Annie's first breakfast with the family. The Battle of Vicksburg, a significant Civil War conflict, lasted 47 days and culminated in a Northern victory under Ulysses S. Grant on July 4, 1863. Grant became renowned for his relentless determination, and Captain Keller later likens Annie's stubbornness to Grant's. Keller's prejudice and disdain are evident in his derogatory comments about Grant's drinking habits, making his comparison of Annie to Grant a negative one. Additionally, Captain Keller is wary of Annie's methods due to her youth and near blindness. Through these instances, Gibson illustrates the deep-seated prejudices prevalent among many Americans at the time.

American Theatre in the 1950s

In the 1950s, American theatre frequently explored societal issues and the disillusionment people faced while chasing the "American Dream." Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman (1949) is often seen as a modern tragedy, depicting the profound struggles of an ordinary man within American society. This play notably influenced the structure and form of The Miracle Worker. Gibson employs flashbacks and past events to enhance the unfolding action onstage in "real" time as the audience watches. Other artistic trends of the era included the use of psychological realism to drive characters' conflicts and motivations, exemplified by Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire (1947). Gibson adopts this approach in The Miracle Worker by using offstage voices to represent Annie's subconscious, providing her with the drive to undertake challenging tasks. However, by the late 1950s, these trends began to wane as theatre moved towards nonrealistic and existential themes, as seen in Samuel Beckett's Waiting For Godot.

The late 1950s presented numerous challenges for many individuals in the U.S. Fear and prejudice were prominent themes in various facets of American life, particularly in the South. Some resisted change, clinging to their traditional view of American society, while others demanded their rightful place in the world, voicing their visions for a new American society. Over time, many Americans embraced change, and, much like the Kellers in The Miracle Worker, they learned and evolved together in the process.

1880s: Alabama and other Southern states had just emerged from the Reconstruction era (1865-77) following the Civil War. Southerners were distrustful of Northern practices and ideologies, including African American rights.

1950s: Alabama gained international recognition as the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), led by Martin Luther King, Jr., helped the black community organize and strategize to achieve goals such as desegregation and voting rights.

Today: The U.S. government and much of American society have adapted to embrace and promote the principles of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. Despite legal protections, some individuals continue to hold racist and separatist views. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan persist in spreading messages of hatred and division.

1880s: African Americans in the South faced challenges in finding their place in society, with many working as servants in affluent white households.

1950s: Segregation limited African Americans' access to higher education and well-paying jobs.

Today: African Americans occupy roles at all levels of business in the U.S. However, racism remains an issue in American society. Significant progress has been made since the Civil Rights Movement, but much work remains to address racial problems.

1880s: Sign language, including the hand symbols used by Annie in The Miracle Worker, was introduced to American society but faced strong resistance. Non-gesticulating schools continued to dominate.

1950s: The invention of the tellatouch allowed sighted individuals to communicate with deaf-blind people who could read braille.

Today: Technological advancements continue to enhance communication for the visually and hearing impaired within a hearing and sighted society.

1880s: Almshouses or asylums housed America's outcasts and disabled individuals, who were often subjected to forced labor to offset maintenance costs. The Perkins Institution for the Blind, founded by Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe in 1832, provided an alternative to asylums and educated the visually and hearing impaired.

1950s: Blind and deaf students attended public schools alongside non-disabled peers. Special day and residential schools were also common and received funding to support the needs of deaf and blind students and their educators.

Today: The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in 1990, addresses the needs of the disabled in areas such as education, employment, telecommunications, and public services.