Why does the author believe that the sense of sight is the most wonderful?
The author believes sight is the most wonderful sense because it reveals the greatest beauty and provides the most comprehensive experience of the world.
She states that if she can get 'so much pleasure from mere touch', how much more beauty must be revealed by sight.
Sight allows one to see into 'the heart of a friend through that "window of the soul," the eye'—something touch cannot fully accomplish.
Sight enables witnessing the 'thrilling miracle by which night is transformed into day', the 'magnificent panorama of light', and the 'pageant of man's progress' in museums.
It allows observing people's daily lives, seeing their smiles, determination, and suffering.
The author concludes: 'But of all the senses, I am sure that sight must be the most delightful.'
Explanation
Helen Keller explicitly states her belief that sight is the most wonderful sense at the end of the essay. Throughout the text, she describes the limitations of touch—she can only feel the outline of a face, not truly 'see' into someone's heart. Sight would allow her to experience dawn, nature's beauty, human faces, museums, and city life in ways that touch cannot replicate. Her conclusion emphasizes that despite finding joy through touch, sight remains supreme.
Solution Steps
Sight reveals the greatest beauty and provides the most comprehensive experience of the world
The author derives pleasure from touch, but believes sight would reveal much more beauty
Sight enables seeing into 'the heart of a friend' through the 'window of the soul' — the eye
Sight allows witnessing the miracle of night transforming into day and the magnificent panorama of light
Sight enables viewing the 'pageant of man's progress' in museums
Sight permits observation of people's daily lives — their smiles, determination, and suffering
The author concludes that sight must be the most delightful of all the senses