Character guide

Helen Keller

major

Also known as Helen, Helen A. Keller, Helen Adams Keller, Miss Keller, little Helen, the new Helen

Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, Helen loses sight and hearing as an infant and grows up wild, unreachable, and furious with longing until a teacher arrives who can touch her mind. Writing as an adult, she admits she paints the child's experience in fantasy, and that fact and fancy look alike across the years. Her hunger to name everything — trees, seasons, the people she loves — drives the book's early and middle chapters, where each new word is a door thrown open.

Anne Sullivan

major

Also known as Miss Sullivan, Annie, Miss Anne Mansfield Sullivan, Teacher

Miss Sullivan arrives at Ivy Green as an outsider with her own hard history, and her letters to a friend supply the book's second, plainer voice on how Helen was actually taught. Her method is stubborn patience: spelling into a palm, again and again, until meaning catches. When a plagiarism scandal engulfs Helen, Sullivan is questioned, separated from her pupil, and suspected of coaching her — the relationship's first real test, and the reason the middle of the book carries such weight.

Kate Adams Keller

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Keller, Mrs. Kate Adams Keller, Mother

Mrs. Keller moves through the household as the steady hand behind Helen's care, the one who reads about Perkins Institution and pushes for a teacher to be sent. Her tenderness is matched by a quiet resolve: she will not accept that her daughter's mind is closed. In the early chapters she is the bridge between Helen's isolation and the world of doctors, educators, and letters that will eventually claim her.

Captain Keller

supporting

Also known as Captain, Arthur H. Keller

Captain Keller is a man of the old South — punctilious, affectionate in his own way, and often baffled by a daughter he cannot discipline or console. His authority sets the family's tone, and his skepticism about new methods makes him a quiet obstacle as much as a provider. In the early arc he represents the world Helen is born into, and the one she will have to move beyond.

Mildred Keller

supporting

Also known as Mildred Campbell, little Mildred, Miss Mildred Keller

Mildred arrives as a baby when Helen is still a small, wordless tyrant, and the jealousy between them is raw and physical — Helen once nearly overturns her cradle. As language takes hold, the sisters' relationship softens into something like companionship, and Mildred becomes one of the names Helen can spell. She matters because she shows, early, that Helen's world is not only darkness but also other people, with all their competing claims.

Michael Anagnos

supporting

Also known as Mr. Anagnos, Mr. Michael Anagnos

Mr. Anagnos is the benevolent patron who arranges for Miss Sullivan to come to Alabama and who publishes Helen's early writing with pride. His affection for her is real, which is exactly why the 'Frost King' affair cuts so deep: when the story is found to resemble an earlier tale, he suspects deliberate deception and lets his tenderness curdle into reproach. His wavering belief becomes the book's sharpest early lesson in how fragile a child's reputation can be.

Alexander Graham Bell

supporting

Also known as Dr. Bell, Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, Mr. Bell

Bell enters Helen's story as the celebrated inventor of the telephone who also devoted himself to teaching the deaf to speak, and it is to him that her parents turn when their blind and mute daughter seems beyond reach. He examines Helen, then points the family toward the Perkins Institution and the young teacher who will change everything. Helen dedicates her autobiography to him, calling him the man who taught the deaf to speak and enabled the listening ear to hear speech from the Atlantic to the Rockies.

John Hitz

minor

Also known as Mr. John Hitz, Mr. Hitz

Superintendent of the Volta Bureau, who assisted Helen's education.

Sarah Fuller

minor

Also known as Miss Sarah Fuller, Miss Fuller

Teacher who gave Helen her first speech lessons.

Merton S. Keith

minor

Also known as Mr. Keith, Mr. Merton S. Keith

Helen's mathematics tutor during her preparation for college.

Arthur Gilman

minor

Also known as Mr. Gilman, Mr. Arthur Gilman

Principal of the Cambridge School for Young Ladies, where Helen prepared for Radcliffe.

John P. Spaulding

minor

Also known as Mr. John P. Spaulding, Mr. Spaulding

A friend and benefactor who supported Helen's education.

Mrs. Laurence Hutton

minor

Also known as Mrs. Hutton, dear Mrs. Hutton

Wife of Laurence Hutton, a warm friend and host to Helen.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

minor

Also known as Dr. Holmes, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes

Poet and physician who met Helen and corresponded with her.

Edward Everett Hale

minor

Also known as Dr. Hale, Dr. Edward Everett Hale

Unitarian minister and author who befriended Helen.

Phillips Brooks

minor

Also known as Bishop Brooks, Rev. Phillips Brooks

Episcopal bishop whose sermons deeply influenced Helen's spiritual life.

Samuel Gridley Howe

minor

Also known as Dr. Howe, Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe

Founder of the Perkins Institution, who pioneered education for the blind.

Laura Bridgman

minor

Also known as Laura

A deaf-blind woman educated at Perkins, an inspiration for Helen's education.

Margaret T. Canby

minor

Also known as Miss Canby, Miss Margaret T. Canby

Author of 'The Frost Fairies,' which Helen was accused of plagiarizing.

Charles Dudley Warner

minor

Also known as Mr. Charles Dudley Warner, Mr. Warner

Essayist and editor who corresponded with Helen.

Mark Twain

minor

Also known as Mr. Clemens, Samuel Clemens

Famous author who became a friend and admirer of Helen.

John Greenleaf Whittier

minor

Also known as Whittier, Mr. John Greenleaf Whittier

Poet who corresponded with Helen and praised her writing.

Joseph Jefferson

minor

Also known as Mr. Joseph Jefferson, Joe

Famous actor who performed for Helen and became a friend.

Sophia C. Hopkins

minor

Also known as Mrs. Hopkins, Mrs. Sophia C. Hopkins

A teacher at Perkins who accompanied Helen on trips.

Viney

minor

Also known as Viney black

An African-American servant in the Keller household during Helen's childhood.

Martha Washington

minor

Also known as Martha

The cook's daughter who was Helen's childhood playmate.

Tommy Stringer

minor

Also known as Tommy, little Tommy

A blind boy whom Helen and Miss Sullivan tried to help find a teacher.

Ragnhild Kaata

minor

Also known as Ragnhild

A deaf-blind girl in Norway who learned to speak, inspiring Helen.

James Keller

minor

Also known as Mr. James Keller, James

Helen's half-brother from her father's first marriage.

Ellen Terry

minor

Also known as Miss Ellen Terry, Miss Terry

Famous actress who met Helen.

Henry Irving

minor

Also known as Sir Henry Irving, Sir Henry

Famous actor who performed for Helen.

Grover Cleveland

minor

Also known as Mrs. Grover Cleveland

President who met Helen at the White House.

William Wade

minor

Also known as Mr. William Wade, Mr. Wade

A friend who helped fund Helen's education.

Albert H. Munsell

minor

Also known as Mr. Albert H. Munsell, Mr. Munsell

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Charles T. Copeland

minor

Also known as Mr. Charles T. Copeland, Mr. Copeland

Helen's English tutor at Radcliffe.

Eugene C. Vining

minor

Also known as Mr. Eugene C. Vining, Mr. Vining

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

John D. Wright

minor

Also known as Mr. John D. Wright

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Robert E. Lee

minor

Also known as Robert

Confederate general mentioned in Helen's childhood stories.

Laurence Hutton

minor

Also known as Mr. Laurence Hutton, Mr. Hutton

A literary friend who corresponded with Helen and encouraged her writing.

Henry Drummond

minor

Also known as Mr. Henry Drummond, Drummond

Scottish evangelist and writer who visited Helen.

William Dean Howells

minor

Also known as Mr. Howells, Mr. William Dean Howells

Novelist and editor who corresponded with Helen.

Richard Watson Gilder

minor

Also known as Mr. Gilder, Mr. Richard Watson Gilder

Editor of Century Magazine, who published Helen's work.

Caroline Derby

minor

Also known as Miss Caroline Derby, Miss Derby, Carrie

A friend and correspondent who helped Helen with her writing.

John Burroughs

minor

Also known as Mr. John Burroughs, Mr. Burroughs

Naturalist and writer who corresponded with Helen.

Frank

minor

Also known as Uncle Frank

Helen's uncle who visited the family.

Adeline Keller

minor

Also known as Adeline

Helen's aunt who lived with the family.

Morrie

minor

Also known as Uncle Morrie

Helen's uncle who visited the family.

Leila

minor

Also known as Cousin Leila

Helen's cousin who visited the family.

Elsie Leslie

minor

Also known as Elsie, Allie

Child actress who corresponded with Helen.

John H. Holmes

minor

Also known as Mr. John H. Holmes, Mr. Holmes

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

David H. Greer

minor

Also known as Dr. David H. Greer, Dr. Greer

Episcopal bishop who corresponded with Helen.

Morrison Heady

minor

Also known as Mr. Morrison Heady, Mr. Morrison

A blind poet who corresponded with Helen.

Francis Demetrios Kalopothakes

minor

Also known as Frank

A Greek scholar who tutored Helen.

William Endicott

minor

Also known as Mr. William Endicott, Mr. Endicott

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Fannie S. Marrett

minor

Also known as Miss Fannie S. Marrett, Miss Marrett

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Mahlon D. Spaulding

minor

Also known as Mrs. Mahlon D. Spaulding, Mrs. Spaulding

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Mrs. A. C. Pratt

minor

Also known as Mrs. Pratt

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Mrs. Riggs

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Mrs. Graves

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Dr. Humason

minor

A doctor who treated Helen.

Dr. Bryson

minor

A doctor who treated Helen.

Miss Rhoades

minor

A teacher at the Perkins Institution.

Miss Watkins

minor

A teacher who helped Helen with speech.

Mary C. Moore

minor

Also known as Miss Mary C. Moore, Miss Moore, Mollie

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Linnie Haguewood

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Maud Scott

minor

Also known as Scott, Maud

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Della Bennett

minor

Also known as Miss Della Bennett, Miss Bennett

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Dora Donald

minor

Also known as Don, Miss Dora Donald

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Edith Thomas

minor

Also known as Edith, Poor Edith

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Ida

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Jeanne

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Esther

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Percy

minor

A friend who corresponded with Helen.

Jesus

minor

Central figure of Helen's Christian faith, discussed in her spiritual reflections.

William Shakespeare

minor

Also known as Shakespeare

Playwright whose works Helen read and admired.

Homer

minor

Ancient Greek poet whose epics Helen read and loved.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

minor

Also known as Goethe

German poet whose works Helen studied.

Friedrich Schiller

minor

Also known as Schiller

German poet and playwright whose works Helen read.