'Buried Alive In William Gibson's Play The Miracle Woman'

Buried Alive
In William Gibson’s play, The Miracle Woman, the man’s voice suggests that a blind, deaf woman is like that of a woman who has been buried alive, and he suggests that both deserve equal effort in being saved. Just like the men and women searching for the bodies and hoping to find someone still alive, Annie, Mr. and Mr. Keller would do anything for Helen if she were to be “buried alive.” “Buried alive” not physically but emotionally and academically. In Helen’s case, if she gives up, doesn’t ever learn, or if her parent’s pity smothers her she will be “buried alive.” Annie, Mr. Keller, and Mrs. Keller are going helping and hurting her advantages of learning and being an honored person.
Even though Annie doesn’t personally know Helen she still wants her to learn and be the best she can be in spite of her obstacles. Just like the people searching for the bodies, they don’t know them, but they want to help them. One of the reason’s why Annie doesn’t give up, even though at times it seems impossible, is that she sees great potential in Helen, and she wants to pull that out of her. Also, Annie didn’t have someone to help her with everything. She had to do it herself and grow stronger without family and someone who loved her. Just as Annie says in the play, “Helen is already

strong she doesn’t need to go to an asylum.”
Kate gives Helen pity before Annie comes and still clings to the thought that she needs pity.

But she also feels that what Annie is saying about not needing to give Helen pity because she is taking major advantage of it may be true also. Kate thinks that Annie is a little bit too rough with her and tells her, “Miss Annie, you don’t know the child well enough yet.” But just as usual Annie knows what Helen needs when others don’t because she has a personal experience with it. If she did pity Helen; Helen would not have learned anything, and that wasn’t the point of Annie coming. So the best thing to do was to let Annie teach Helen in the way she thinks is best, if you won’t

change.
I think deep down Captain Keller knows that Helen doesn’t need pity, but just like Kate he still holds on to it. Mainly Captain Keller wants to be the man of the house and doesn’t want to listen to a single woman tell him what to do. He demands pity from Annie towards Helen when he states, “Miss Sullivan! You may have more understanding for you pupils if you had some pity in you.” But by the end he know that Annie is right and he is wrong, and then allows Annie to have her way and be as rough as she wants, as long as he see results.
Just like when a tragic accident happens and people are buried alive, Helen is being buried alive by the people around her. Annie, Mr. Keller and Mrs. Keller are all helping and hurting Helen’s academic and social achievements. Annie wants the best for her and is going to find some way to teach her everything she can. Mr. Keller loves Helen but doesn’t know how to handle her with the disabilities. Mrs. Keller loves Helen so much that her pity is a roadblock for Helen and her success. Will they do what is best for Helen or what they feel like doing?