Stage directions are essential to a reader's comprehension of a play. They provide information about the setting, characters' movements, and actions, which help the reader imagine the scenes and characters' interactions. Moreover, stage directions assist the reader in understanding the tone and mood of the play and the characters' emotions and motivations.
In The Miracle Worker, stage directions are particularly critical as they provide insight into the world of Helen Keller, a deaf-blind girl, and her teacher, Annie Sullivan. For instance, the stage directions in the opening scene of Act 1 describe the set's appearance, including the Keller family's garden and porch, which gives the reader a sense of the family's wealth and status. Additionally, when Helen refuses to sit at the dinner table, the stage directions explain that she thrashes around, grabs utensils, and throws them, giving the reader a glimpse of the extent of Helen's unruly behavior.
*IG: whis.sama_ent