The beginning of the play contains a lot of clues to how
Mr. and Mrs. Keller differ in regards to their feelings about getting help for Helen.
There is a large exchange early in the play that provides all of this information for
us. Quite simply, Kate wants to improve her daughter's life while the Captain simply
wants peace in the house.
Kate loves her daughter and would
do anything for her. "As long as there's the least chance. For her to see. Or hear,
or--" The problem is that Kate has spoiled Helen out of sheer pity. Allowing an
undisciplined child like Helen to cradle a pair of scissors? Come ON! Still, Kate is
in a state of desperation, willing to hire anyone who can provide any semblance of
help.
It's Captain Keller who tries to be a bit more
realistic (along with a tidbit of selfishness). The family has contacted any number of
doctors already. He considers it an "affliction" to have to look at someone so untidy
and undisciplined. This exchange begins with Keller's refusal to write and ends with
his acquiescence. Here is a short list of quotes that well-define the Captain's
position.
- "Kate, some way of teaching her an
iota of discipline has to be--" - "It's not safe to let
her run around loose." - "It hurts me to look at the
girl." - "I've done as much as I can bear, I can't give my
whole life to it!" - "Katie. How many times will you let
them break your heart." - "I've stopped believing in
wonders." - "I want some peace in the house, I don't care
how, but one way we won't have it is by rushing up and down the country every time
someone hears of a new quack."
Perhaps it would
be appropriate to end with the Captain "giving up," and finally offering to write Dr.
Chisholm in Baltimore. Here is the exclamation from Kate that does
it:
Are you
willing to put her away? ... She wants to talk, like--be like you
and me.... Every day she slips further away. And I don't know how to call her
back.
Thank God for Annie
Sullivan!
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