Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail. Which best describes the purpose of the “thumb-nail” imagery? It illustrates Thoreau’s belief that a person’s responsibilities should include some manual labor. It illustrates Thoreau’s belief that most people waste their time attending to their bodies’ needs. It emphasizes Thoreau’s belief that people should carefully choose their commitments. It emphasizes Thoreau’s belief that people should carefully record their accounts.

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the miracle worker themeswilliam gibson

themes and meanings

(comprehensive guide to drama)

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there are two central themes in  the miracle worker: that the human spirit can triumph over even the most daunting of disabilities and that a dedicated teacher can transform the lives of those with whom he or she comes into contact. these inspirational themes have long been personified in the widely known true-life relationship between helen keller and annie sullivan, but  the miracle worker  also dramatizes collateral issues that extend beyond the particular case. underlying helen’s process of learning basic principles of what annie terms “obedience” (decorum, etiquette, and hygiene), there are more universal lessons of self-governance—the inculcation of self-restraint instead of willfulness, the development of self-discipline instead of self-indulgence. only when these lessons have been mastered can helen begin to acquire language—which, annie says, “is to the mind more than light is to the eye.”

specific audience will understand the main ideas. for example, if you were writing an instruction manual for rocket scientists, it would likely look very different from one you would write for young children. your language, tone, and writing style would change significantly.