"I'd rather break stones on the king's highway than hem a handkerchief"

In this quote, Anne Sullivan is revealing her preference for difficult labor over menial jobs. By saying she would rather "break stones on the king's highway," she is describing the physically demanding work of building roads, which was often done by prisoners or those in hardship. This type of work was viewed as degrading and lowly, but Sullivan would still select it over "hemming a handkerchief." Hemming a scarf was a typical task for ladies at the time, and it was seen as a sign of domesticity and womanhood. By mentioning her preference for breaking stones, Sullivan is difficult conventional gender roles and societal expectations for ladies. She values effort and physical labor over traditional feminine tasks, revealing her strength and decision.