William Gibson's The Miracle Worker

In the final scene of the play, The Miracle Worker by William Gibson, Kate “simultaneously finds and loses a child.” Helen and Kate make an important connection but at the same time, they lose a very large part of their relationship. This is shown by actions and symbolization.

First of all, Helen will no longer be the clingy, dependent child that her mother comforted for so long. Helen will be able to grow up and join the rest of the world. She will be able to be mostly independent, besides Annie. In Act 3, scene 3, the stage directions state, “Then she holds out the keys and places them in Annie’s hand.” This is symbolization of Helen giving her trust and reliance to Annie and away from Kate. Helen wants to learn and Kate cannot provide