Three Days to See
by Helen Keller
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In this essay, Helen Keller, who became blind and deaf at a very young age due to illness, reflects on how precious the gift of sight is, and how those who can see often take it for granted, seeing very little of the beautiful world around them. She suggests it would be a blessing if every human were stricken blind and deaf for a few days in early adulthood, so they would deeply appreciate their senses. She then imagines what she would choose to see if granted sight for just three days. On the First Day she would look into the faces of her dear friends, especially her teacher Anne Sullivan, and walk in the woods to enjoy Nature. On the Second Day she would rise at dawn to watch night turn into day, visit the Museum of Art to study human progress through sculpture and painting, and spend the evening at the theatre or cinema. On the Third Day she would explore the busy, workaday world of New York City, its streets, slums, factories and parks, before darkness closes in again, ending with an appeal to everyone to use their eyes as if they would be stricken blind tomorrow.
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Helen Keller (1880–1968), the remarkable American author who became blind and deaf in early childhood, reflects in this essay on the priceless value of sight. She gently reproaches those who can see for taking their vision for granted, and imagines how she would spend just three days of sight.
The value of sight and gratitude
Keller notes that those who have eyes often take their sight for granted, seeing very little of the beautiful world around them. She suggests that it would be an excellent blessing if every human were stricken blind and deaf for a few days during early adulthood, as it would make them deeply appreciate their senses.
The first two days
On the First Day, Keller would dedicate the time to the people who have shown her kindness and companionship. She wants to look into the faces of her dear friends, especially her teacher, Anne Sullivan, to imprint their features on her mind, and in the afternoon take a long walk in the woods to enjoy the beauties of Nature.
On the Second Day, she would arise at dawn to witness the magnificent miracle of night transforming into day. She would spend the day at the Museum of Art, studying the history of man's progress through sculptures and paintings, and spend the evening at a theatre or cinema enjoying the grace of human movement.
The third day and the final appeal
On the Third Day, Keller would spend her time in the busy, workaday world, visiting the crowded streets of New York City and looking at the slums, factories and parks to understand how people actually work and live.
At midnight, permanent darkness would close in on her again, but her mind would be filled with beautiful memories. She concludes with an appeal to everyone to use their eyes as if tomorrow they would be stricken blind.