Skip to main content

In The Story of My Life, is Helen's childhood depicted as a happy one?

Helen’s early childhood was unhappy because after she lost her sight and hearing she could not communicate effectively. 


Helen had a hard time between the time she lost her sight and hearing as a toddler and the time she learned to communicate when Anne Sullivan taught her.  She knew that other people were able to communicate with words. Since she was a baby when she lost her hearing and knew few words, she could...

Helen’s early childhood was unhappy because after she lost her sight and hearing she could not communicate effectively. 


Helen had a hard time between the time she lost her sight and hearing as a toddler and the time she learned to communicate when Anne Sullivan taught her.  She knew that other people were able to communicate with words. Since she was a baby when she lost her hearing and knew few words, she could not.  This frustrated her. 



I had noticed that my mother and my friends did not use signs as I did when they wanted anything done, but talked with their mouths…. I could not understand, and was vexed. I moved my lips and gesticulated frantically without result. This made me so angry at times that I kicked and screamed until I was exhausted. (Ch. 2) 



Helen’s bad behavior as a child was a direct result of not understanding or being understood.  She was not a bad child.  She had an agile mind and enjoyed mischief.  She just could not express herself in ways that people understood. 


The other problem Helen had was that she suddenly had a little sister.  This would bother most young children, and when you do not understand everything that happens around you it causes additional friction.  That was Helen’s issue. 



For a long time I regarded my little sister as an intruder. I knew that I had ceased to be my mother's only darling, and the thought filled me with jealousy. She sat in my mother's lap constantly, where I used to sit, and seemed to take up all her care and time.  (Ch. 2)



Eventually Helen overcame having a little sister and Anne Sullivan came and taught her sign language.  However, the early days were days of darkness.  They were tough for little Helen Keller because she could not communicate.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more