Question

What impression did Macaulay's "Life of Samuel Johnson" make on Helen?

Answer 1

Helen found Macaulay's "Life of Samuel Johnson", interesting. Her heart was filled with sympathy for the man on Grub Street, that was left all by himself to suffer much affliction and pain. However, even in the midst of his toil, he always lend out his hand to help the poor and reassured them with kind words. 
Helen chose to rejoice in his success and shut her eyes to his failures and his faults, because these failures did not crush the spirit within him. Helen admired his positive spirit, but it also often left her anxious and in an attitude to question things around her. 

Answer 2

'Life of Samuel Johnson' by Macaulay had a profound impact on Helen as she learned to admire the kindness and compassion in Samuel Johnson in spite of the toil and cruel suffering of body and soul he was going through. She was so impressed by his empathetic attitude that she was not averse to his faults. However, often she was wearied by his positiveness and plunged into a questioning frame of mind.