Illustration of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan

The Miracle Worker

by William Gibson

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The Miracle Worker Questions on Captain Keller

The Miracle Worker

The relationship between James and Captain Keller in The Miracle Worker is strained and conflict-ridden. James feels overshadowed and ignored by his authoritative father, Captain Keller, who...

4 educator answers

The Miracle Worker

In The Miracle Worker, Helen's mother, Kate Keller, believes in Helen's intellectual potential and shows her affection, while her father, Captain Keller, rarely interacts with her. Her half-brother,...

1 educator answer

The Miracle Worker

Captain Keller reacts to Annie's work with Helen with strong disapproval and anger, believing she is too strict and lacks compassion. He prefers to humor Helen's disruptive behavior, while Annie...

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The Miracle Worker

In The Miracle Worker, Mrs. Keller is portrayed as a loving but overly permissive mother to Helen, allowing her to act without discipline due to pity for her disabilities. This approach, however,...

3 educator answers

The Miracle Worker

Helen's reaction to Annie in The Miracle Worker reveals her challenge of being a spoiled and obstinate child who behaves without manners due to her family's pity. Mr. Keller's actions and Kate's...

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The Miracle Worker

Captain Keller, whose first name is Arthur, is a stern and authoritative figure in "The Miracle Worker." He is a newspaper editor and a former Confederate officer. His strict demeanor often clashes...

4 educator answers

The Miracle Worker

Annie Sullivan, the protagonist of William Gibson's The Miracle Worker, faces two main antagonists in the play--her own fears (fear of failure) and the Keller family, particularly Helen (her deaf and...

1 educator answer

The Miracle Worker

Before Annie's arrival, Helen's behavior significantly affects her family. The Captain pities her but is often exasperated, as seen when Helen disrupts his papers to gain attention. Kate coddles...

1 educator answer

The Miracle Worker

When Captain Keller says "the house is at sixes and sevens from morning 'til night over the child," he means the household is in constant disarray due to Helen's uncontrollable behavior. Helen's...

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The Miracle Worker

Captain Keller believes Helen's situation is hopeless, while Kate Keller believes there is still hope that Helen can either be cured or taught to communicate with others.

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The Miracle Worker

Before leaving the garden house, Captain Keller and Annie Sullivan agree that Annie and Helen can live together alone on the property. Annie believes this separation from Helen's family will prevent...

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The Miracle Worker

Annie persuades Captain Keller to accept her treatment ideas by demonstrating her ability to discipline Helen and achieve results, such as teaching Helen to eat properly. She bluntly criticizes the...

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The Miracle Worker

Captain Keller uses the simile of "teaching a dog to spell" to describe Annie's efforts to teach Helen to communicate. This comparison reflects his skepticism about Helen's ability to learn anything...

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The Miracle Worker

Captain Keller is an imperious man and a domineering force in his home. He expects to be obeyed and does not tolerate disobedience of his wishes or orders. In Act II, when Helen and Annie are...

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The Miracle Worker

At the end of Act III, Scene II in "The Miracle Worker," Captain Keller becomes Annie Sullivan's ally. Initially skeptical of Annie's methods with Helen, he observes significant progress in Helen's...

2 educator answers