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the miracle worker themeswilliam gibson

themes and meanings

(comprehensive guide to drama)

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there are two central themes in  the miracle worker: that the human spirit can triumph over even the most daunting of disabilities and that a dedicated teacher can transform the lives of those with whom he or she comes into contact. these inspirational themes have long been personified in the widely known true-life relationship between helen keller and annie sullivan, but  the miracle worker  also dramatizes collateral issues that extend beyond the particular case. underlying helen’s process of learning basic principles of what annie terms “obedience” (decorum, etiquette, and hygiene), there are more universal lessons of self-governance—the inculcation of self-restraint instead of willfulness, the development of self-discipline instead of self-indulgence. only when these lessons have been mastered can helen begin to acquire language—which, annie says, “is to the mind more than light is to the eye.”

ian mortimer in his book "the time traveller's guide to elizabethan england" uses a narrative in his style, which successfully conveys a clear description of the life in england in the 16th century. he writes in second person, which makes it comfortable to reader and easy to understand, he captures the readers attention with views of the landscape, the streets, the people including rich and poor. he also depicts some cultural traits from how people behave, eat or what they wear. his descriptions range from the social, economical, the political power to the examples of the life of common people. it could be tell that this book is about social history rather than a   novel.