Miracle Worker- Includes Characters, Symbols, Themes, and Facts

A smart, stubborn deaf-blind girl who is taught by Annie Sullivan. She often fights and is pitied by her family.

A smart, extremely stubborn, independent young woman, 20 years old, teaches Helen to communicate, is considered a Miracle Worker. She is the North in the battle with Captain Keller. She mourns for her brother, Jimmie.

Annie and James' father, Kate's husband. He is a stubborn man who believes that women are the "flowers of society.

" He wants control over Helen and doesn't believe she needs to be anything more than polite. He is the south in the battle with Annie, whom he dislikes in the beginning of the book.

She is the mother of Helen and the wife of Keller. She likes Annie and wants her to teach Helen to be independent and free-willed as well as polite. She wants to do everything she can to help Annie and Helen. She loves Helen and will do anything for her, but wouldn't give Annie more time because she missed Helen.

He is the son of Keller. He is stubborn and does not like Annie. He believes that Helen is a lost cause and thinks that Annie is much too young to help Helen. He has an ongoing battle with Keller and himself to speak up for himself and to stay silent.

Towards the end of the book, he and keller's relationship has a "resurrection." He doubts Annie throughout the book, and clearly states it to Annie throughout her teachings.

Annie's little brother who died when he was young at the Tewksbury Almhouse with Annie. Annie believes that his death was her fault and has periodic flashbacks of Jimmie's struggles. He is the cause for much of Annie's pain and her belief of needing a resurrection.

She openly expresses her feelings towards Helen and is the one that recommends they see Dr.

Chisholm for help. She is always trying to be helpful, but often is barging in on issues. She threatens to take matters into her own hands and is called an outsider by Annie.

He is a servant to the Kellers and he bites Helen when she touches his mouth and tries to talk in the beginning of the book. He also serves as a tool to Annie when Annie teaches him a new word, milk, and makes Helen jealous enough to let Annie teach her.

She is another servant to the Kellers who pities Helen when she tries to talk.

She is the Keller's other daughter who is a symbol to what could have been. She is the "perfect child" who never causes any trouble, not deaf or blind.

An elderly man that makes the call that Helen will live after having "acute congestion.

" He says that Helen has a lot of vitality and is strong. He fails to notice that Helen is deaf and blind.

He is Annie's counselor at Perkin's Institute for the. He sets up Annie's position as governess with the Kellers and is kind to Annie, but can be stern.

Ie Alice, Beatrice, Laura. The group of girls at Perkin's Institute that have the closest relationship with Annie.

They give her tinted glasses and a doll with moveable eyes and a "Mama" sound for Helen.

Helen's place of refuge, Her miracle, her only safe spot.

Symbolizes the ongoing battle between Annie (North) and Keller (south) for Helen's independence. Annie is like the Northern General and is extremely stubborn. This foreshadows Annie winning in the end just like the north did.

Annie Vs.

Keller, Annie's independent ways, used to fending for herself, vs Keller's view that women are the "flowers of society," his "chivalry."

Helen breaking out of her shell and being able to communicate

TRUST. Annie locking Helen in to teach her, when Helen eventually gives Annie the keys, it shows that she trusts her.

Like Helen's ability to communicate, Locked inside her body, Annie and Communication is the key to getting her out from behind the doors.

Helen's intelligence- shows she's smart when she hid the keys inside the loose board in the well.

Helen's miracle of language

The barrier between Helen and communication, stifles her learning

All characters must change their ways for the better to provide Helen the opportunity to learn and transform. Kate and Keller must relinquish Control, James needs to learn to stand up to Keller, Annie needs to change her ways to teach Helen.

2nd Chance for love between Annie and Helen, what Annie thinks she should be owed after Jimmie's death, feels that she owes teaching Helen. James/Keller's relationship going through a resurrection. Helen's resurrection with language.

Helen's key to breaking out of her shell and being able to communicate and have her own will.

What Annie strives for Helen to have throughout the novel. Key to setting Helen free and allowing her to be independent.

Annie's stubbornness resulting in Helen's awakening, not giving up on Helen. She outlasts Kate, Keller, and Helen by being more stubborn. Like the Northern General. Helen's only way to communicate.

Annie is the North- strong, STUBBORN and independent, and Keller is the South- decorum, manners, appeasement, being proper and authoritative. Annie's Northern ways outruns Southern sentimentalities to help Helen Transform.

Speaker- JamesContext- At the train station when he first meets AnnieSignificance- Voicing his doubt that Annie is much too young to make a difference in Helen.

Speaker- AnnieContext- when Mr. Anagnos tells Annie behave herself before she leaves PerkinsSignificance- Foreshadows the trouble she'll have with Keller

Speaker-Kate to KellerContext- After breakfast when Keller wants Kate to speak to Annie and demand an apology from Annie for raising her voice to him.

Significance- Shows Kate standing up to Keller and voicing how she wants Annie to stay and likes her

Speaker- Annie to KellerContext- When Annie says she wants more time alone with Helen, and when she tells him Helen shouldn't be indulged all the time but shouldn't be obedient without understandingSignificance- Why Annie wants Helen to learn language, Annie convincing herself she doesn't love Helen, shows that she wants the best for Helen and Keller should too

Ivy Green in Tescumbia, Alabama

This is where Annie attended school. It is in Watertown, MA.

This is where Annie goes before Perkins School and is where Jimmie dies. It is in Tewksbury, MA.

The female equivalent to Harvard, where Helen goes.

It is in Boston, MA.

Water