Read this scene from the miracle worker act 3. (annie is now alone on the stage. she turns, gazing around at the stripped room, bidding it silently farewell, impassively, like a defeated general on the deserted battlefield. all that remains is a stand with a basin of water. . ) how do these stage directions add meaning to the play?

Stage directions are the director's visualization of what should happen in the stage.

Explanation:

Stage directions let the actors or the readers know where they should be on stage. There are specific directions such as center stage, downstage left, upstage right, etc. Stage directions can also help in setting the emotional tone, rhythm, and mood of the play for the audience to capture the message and/or meta-message of the play. For the actor/reader, the stage directions can also help him/her in determining subtexts of his/her dialogues.

In the example given, the reader knows what ANNIE should do (i.e., turns, gazing around at the stripped room, bidding it silently farewell) or what emotions need to convey (i.e., impassively, like a defeated general on the deserted battlefield.).

When you combine both the actions and the emotions essential for the play, a powerful message or a metaphor will be delivered (i.e., All that remains is a stand with a basin of water) that will have a significant impact on the audience.