Question

2. Why is Annie Sullivan frustrated when her two weeks of being isolated with Helen come to a close? How do the events of Helen’s welcome-home supper increase Annie’s frustrations? What does the climactic incident at the water pump prove about Annie’s beliefs?

Answer 1

Annie is extremely frustrated because she is finally getting through to Helen but her time has ran out and she has to send Helen back into the house with her family. She feels that the little bit that she has already taught Helen will be erased once Helen is put back into a place with her family who babies her instead of insisting that she be treated like a normal child. Her thoughts are solidified when Helen throws a temper tantrum at her homecoming dinner once Helen realizes that she is back inside her own home. Although the Kellers are against punishing Helen for her behavior at the dinner reluctantly, they allow Annie to discipline her. As a result, Annie takes Helen outside to the water pump to refill the pitcher of water that she spilled at the table. When Helen feels the water running over her hands she has a flashback of a memory from her early childhood when she could hear. she equates the running water to " wa wa" (baby talk for water). Annie then takes this opportunity to take Helen to the various things that she has learned around the front yard and reinforce what she has taught her ex. she takes her to a tree and then signs the word tree, then she takes her to the steps and signs the word step. It is at this point when Helen begins to understand what the sign language means. Annie's beliefs are right. Helen is capable of learning. She just needed to find a way to reach her.