Conflicts of a Miracle Worker

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Conflicts of a Miracle Worker Throughout “The Miracle Worker”. There is internal conflict such as man versus self. There is also external conflict such as man versus man, man versus nature and also man versus society. In the conflict of Helen vs. herself, she is fighting for one main reason, her disability, and her resulting inability to communicate with others. Her disability of not being able to see or hear is a result of a childhood illness. Though she has tried she could not, before she met Annie, speak. This failing led to fits of rage in which she attacked herself, anybody, or anything. Examples of these fits are when she attacked Martha, or tried to smash her doll's head on the floor. A second conflict Helen is in is with Annie. Annie tries to teach Helen sign language; Helen responds by throwing tantrums, thinking Annie is a problem that can be sent away with a few fits, like any other past problem in her life. Annie sees these fits for what they are though, Helen's main communication to the world. When Annie tries to make sign language her main communication Helen throws fits until she realizes that Annie isn't going away, and isn't going to give in to a few tantrums. Helen comes to respect, even love Annie when Helen learns that her finger games are a means to communicate to the outside world. Gibson writes about Annie Sullivan’s internal and external conflicts. Annie comes to Alabama to teach a blind, deaf girl named Helen Keller how to communicate. Annie has an immediate conflict with Helen’s father, Captain Keller, and when she meets the wild and undisciplined Helen, Annie has an even bigger conflict with her. In addition to these external conflicts, Annie also has an internal one. With this conflict she feels guilty about leaving her brother Jimmie in the State Alms House so that she could get an education. Annie had sworn to take care of
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