Never Giving Up In The Miracle Worker

“Now all i have to teach you is one word - everything” - Annie Sullivan. The Miracle Worker By William Gibson is a realistic play about perseverance that is based on Helen Keller learning how to communicate without sight hearing or speech. Helen Keller was a normal baby until her parents realized that was blind and deaf. They suffered with not disciplining her so she had no manners and couldn’t learn until Annie Sullivan came to try and teach her how to act, talk, and live. The theme of never giving up was revealed by Annie always believing in Helen, by the things that happen to them and by the author's tone in the play. Annie and Helen work relentlessly and to try and have Helen learn to talk. Annie is constantly trying to find new ways to teach Helen. One of the first days Annie is there she realizes Helen didn’t have any manners and was used to just doing whatever she wanted. Annie makes everyone leave the room during dinner and she drags Helen to the table and forces her to fold a napkin because without manners they weren’t going to accomplish anything.
One of the scenes that is very intense and shows this theme is when Annie forces Helen to fold a napkin. They are all at dinner on one of the first nights Annie is there, and Helen comes up to the table and starts grabbing food off people's plates. Annie is appalled and makes everyone leave the room as she wrestles Helen for awhile before making her fold a napkin to show manners. During this scene chairs go flying and Helen is doing everything she can to get away from Annie. She doesn’t let her go and by never giving up Annie helps Helen finally understand that there are rules and that there are consequences for actions. This is just one of the many scenes in this play that show how important it is to never give up on