Question

why does helen destroy the new doll? why does Helen say that she felt neither sorrow nor regret for breaking the doll

Answer 1

One day, when Helen was playing with her new doll which Miss Sullivan had brought form Perkins institute as a gift for her, the latter put the former’s rag doll into her lap and spelled "d-o-l-l" and tried to make her understand that "d-o-l-l" applied to both, it made Helen angry.

Earlier that day, they had differences and argument over the words "m-u-g" and "w-a-t-e-r." Helen thought there was no difference between the two words. When Miss Sullivan again tried to teach Helen the difference between the words "m-u-g" and "w-a-t-e-r", became impatient and threw the doll on the floor. It was broken into pieces.

Helen felt neither sorrow nor regret for breaking the doll because owing to living in the perpetual darkness of her disabilities, she had not learnt any tenderness and attachment to anything in the world.

Answer 2

Miss Sulliven actually placed a big rap doll on the Hellen lap, the purpose was to make the Hellen to spell 'Doll".This was for Hellen so that she can understand the  word "doll" .But , the hellen's repeated attemps make her impatient and she take the doll and destroy it by dashing upon the floor.

The Hellen was happy to see the broken doll . This was because she did not love that doll and also not had any emotional attachment with it.This is why she neither felt sorrow nor regret for breaking it.