2/17: In-Class Discussion

The Author and Their Characters: Eudora Welty


As the editors of our anthology write, characterization of a story’s characters is something to ponder and analyze. What is the author’s relationship with their characters? Why are they writing this person to be like this!

Understanding the characterization of a character can lead to a clearer understanding of a story. A good writer is often conscious of portrayal of their characters – how the reader will view them – but the authorial purpose of such portrayals, whether “good” or “bad”, protagonist or antagonist, etc., depends on the author.

Today, we are looking at the characters of “Why I Live at the P.O.,” by Eudora Welty. After breaking into small groups, discuss each of the questions listed below with your peers.

The main goal of today is to debate this question: “What may be Welty’s purpose in giving us this slice of small-town, Southern life, and is her treatment of her characters filled with love or indictment?”


To help answer this main question, it will also be important to look at individual characters and also consider some literary-convention questions…

1. Are the characters round or flat, generally speaking? Are some characters rounder or flatter than others? Provide examples (page # and explanation)?

2. Consider point of view – how would you interpret the story differently if Sister was just another character, and not also the narrator? In other words, how does having Sister be the narrator affect what meaning you pull out of your reading?

3. What kind of character is Papa-Daddy, and how is he represented through Sister’s eyes? Is there judgment from the narrator towards him?

4. What about Uncle Rondo? What is his relationship with Sister, and how do they react to each other?

5. What is the relationship between Sister and Stella-Rondo? How serious is the conflict between the two, and where does that conflict come from?

6. Speaking of conflict, are readers supposed to believe that Sister will, in fact, make a permanent residence at the Post Office of China Grove, Mississippi?

7. If you haven’t (or have!) within you’re above answers, discuss the role of humor/exaggeration in the story, especially in regards to characters – what they say, and how they react to each other.

Is Welty’s use of humor meant to ridicule her characters, or something else?