Skip to main content

How does "I came, I saw, I conquered," from The Story of My Life, prove true in Helen Keller's case?

In chapter one of The Story of My Life Helen Keller talks about her life before she was left blind and deaf after a terrible illness as a baby. When she says "I came, I saw, I conquered" she is speaking about how she impressed her parents and captured their hearts "as the first baby in the family always does." Every parent is overawed by his or her children as babies, especially as they reach milestones sometimes sooner than expected, and Helen's parents are no exception.

After her illness things change and life for Helen becomes very difficult. However, her parents support her and do whatever they can for her. This book and the very successful and fulfilling life that Helen goes on to have are testament to her perseverance, patience and level of intelligence. Helen could not have known how prophetic those words would be. 


Once Anne Sullivan comes into Helen's life, in chapter two, Helen finds escape from her "silent, aimless dayless life." In chapter four she acknowledges that "the most important day I remember in all my life" is the day Anne arrives. From that day forward "everything that could hum, or buzz, or sing, or bloom had a part in my education" (chapter seven). Helen's incredible ability to "learn from life itself" is what ensures her success. 


Helen faces each challenge and makes it a learning opportunity. She is in a tree when lightning strikes, she is washed underwater by a wave, and she and her sister get lost, yet Helen refuses to let any of these events stop her. Rather she insists they contribute to her education. Helen graduates from college, which is impressive for any woman from that era, and uses her own situation as a possible learning experience for others by writing this book. She will go on to be a motivational speaker and to write several other books.   


The main goal of this book is to help others who may experience tough times and to help them find their way through the difficulties in spite of obstacles. Helen wants others to understand that if she can do it then anyone can. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is the probability that a cross between parents who are both homozygous recessive for trait will have offspring that are homozygous recessive...

In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring... In the question, both parents are homozygous recessive for a trait. Therefore, the only genes present in each parent's genotype would be two copies of the recessive gene.  If these parents decide to have offspring, 100% of their children will inherit two recessive alleles and will express the recessive trait. An example of this can be demonstrated with the sickle cell anemia allele. If both parents have sickle cell anemia, then all of their offspring will have the disease phenotype. The disease phenotype of sickle cell anemia re...
Post a Comment
Read more