Though I love the feeling of
writing on paper, I rarely do. My writing style is one that could be considered
unsystematic, initially consisting of a free flow of unorganized ideas, which I
must arrange and edit later. Writing on a
computer, therefore, enables me to do this effortlessly. I’ve realized that it
is the visual aspect of writing on paper that I enjoy - something that Helen
Keller would not have been able to experience.
It’s difficult to imagine writing
without the ability to see your words, and having to rely solely on the feeling of writing. In chapter 14 of The Story of My Life (1905), Helen
Keller expresses that, “Trying to write is very much like trying to put a
Chinese puzzle together. We have a pattern in mind which we wish to work out in
words; but the words will not fit the spaces, or, if they do, they will not
match the design” (p.70). She had no visual structure to rely on in the
organization of her writing, nor did she have the ability to re-read her work
in the process of writing; therefore, she could only disseminate based on her
memory.
The genre in which she writes is
one that is so unique, we simply cannot imagine the experience of it, nor can
we begin to understand the conscious processes that she undergoes when putting
her thoughts and feelings into words. She is writing from a deep consciousness
of the human mind – one free of outwardly distractions or influence. The
continuous hardships she faced when learning to write are unfathomable, yet she
never gave up. Helen Keller was constantly driven to further her education and
her ability to communicate through her writing, even with the adversities of
her disabilities; therefore her work will forever be an inspiration to all.
Keller, H., Macy, J. &
Sullivan, A. (1905). The story of my life. New York: Grosset &
Dunlap.
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