What were the characteristics of Helen Keller?

Helen Keller is the author of the autobiography. In infancy, she fell seriously ill (the exact diagnosis is unknown) and was left blind and deaf. She realized that she was different from the others around her, but she did her best to make herself understood. She had a loving relationship with her sister and often retreated to her mother's warm embrace when she was hurt or angry. After years of difficulty communicating, Keller became extremely willful and hostile and would resort to fitful episodes out of frustration. She notes in chapter three, "I felt as if invisible hands were holding me, and I made frantic efforts to free myself." Her parents were no longer able to control or reach her, and they knew she needed special training. After contacting the Perkins Institution for the Blind in Boston, they welcomed a teacher, Anne Sullivan, to their home.

Keller regards Sullivan's arrival as the most important day of her life. Keller was a motivated and intelligent student and relishes her memories of first understanding the letters of the manual alphabet, which allowed her to learn the names of objects and ideas. After she learned to read Braille, she felt the world open up further for her. Next she learned to speak, and eventually went on to attend Radcliffe College (with Sullivan at her side), from which she graduated with honors in 1904.

Recognizing the blessings in her life led Keller to put her education and drive to work on behalf of others like herself. She became a vocal advocate for the physically challenged and made strides in educating the public about the needs of the blind, deaf, and mute. She was tireless in her pursuit of social reforms and extended her efforts to include feminist issues and minorities' rights. For her work, she received various awards and honorary doctorates. In fact, she was the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate from Harvard. After Sullivan's death in 1936, Keller continued her efforts with the help of other supporters. Keller died in 1968.