Literary Analysis of Eudora Weltys – Why I Live at the P.O.
Eudora Welty’s short story, “Why I Live at the P.O.,” reveals the intricacy of family relationships and how this environment manifests itself in character traits, actions, and decisions. The narrator, by depicting the family quarrel, explores the everlasting ideas of being misunderstood, envious, and thirsty for independence. Through the analysis of selected textual passages and quotations from the work, this analysis will reveal how the whole atmosphere and the existing relationships on the grounds of the family influence the characters’ decision-making and actions, thus unveiling the complex network of familial relationships and how it affects individual decisions.
Welty constitutes the family environment as the leading precipitating cause of the conflict in the story. The protagonist’s decision to stay at the post office is a reflection of her willingness to create a buffer from the drama of her family life. She maintains her autonomy by assuming personal possession over many objects and giving a hard time to her relatives who are exercising their power over her. For example, when she says, “But I do take the fern. Even you, my Mama, can’t stand there and deny the fact that I’m the one who watered the fern,” she expresses her rebellious attitude and the conflict between them (Welty 8). The disputes over power and even bitterness have got the family setting as the combat field, thus plays a considerable role in shaping the mindset and decisions of the characters.
The ambiance of a family further shapes the personal pursuits for independence and self-identification as well. Through her decision to move out of the family home and set up a post office, the narrator attempts to extricate herself from stifling circumstances that have become worse after the arrival of her sister Stella-Rondo from her marriage with a child she claims is adopted. She is determined to discover her identity, not by the family’s standards. This desire for independence is seen in the statement where she announces, “I’m going to P. O., and the only way you can see me is to pay a visit to me there” (Welty 9). The family environment starts to be a constraint, forcing her to prove her self-dependence.
Communication errors hold the key to the development of the family crisis, making the issues much worse. Due to the poor communication the characters have, there are a lot of misconceptions and the relationships almost get shattered as a result. The communication breakdown is evident in the passage where the narrator and Mama engage in a heated exchange: “You apologize, but time waits for no one; you are leaving” (Welty 9). The home has turned into a place where conflicts and unspoken resentments grow, and the protagonists are driven by wrong beliefs that influence their behavior. Welty demonstrates how complicated the family relationships are with this specific family’s issues on display.
The story shows that family does not necessarily unite only through blood but also with shared history and resentments, and Mama’s immeasurable desire for the restoration of normalcy, despite her constant disputes with the children, is what the line “It looks like we’d all be glad” (Welty 6) reflects. Through these developments, Welty points out that the element of conflict might add up to distract individuals from the pursuit of kinship within the complexity of family ties.
The family surroundings in “Why I Live at the P.O.” recognize the importance of pride in character, choices, and actions. The pride of the protagonist is the main driving force behind her decisions, and she does everything she can to earn her independence and express her personality. This pride is evident in her refusal to let those pieces go and exhibit them at the post office for everyone to see. She remarks, “I decide I’ll change the curtains also. How about plain white ones?” (Welty 9). The familial surroundings give her a fire inside to speak for herself and to choose paths that are more suitable to her goals.
Additionally, Welty shows the theme of sibling rivalry within the family setting. The growing conflict between the protagonist and Stella-Rondo is noticeable throughout the story, which drives their choices and actions. The rivalry results from their contrasting characters and the resentment that has accumulated through the years. The protagonist’s hatred towards Stella-Rondo is quite evident in the passage where she says, “I hope she lives to be a hundred and never has a thing in the world but what she has at the moment” (Welty 4). The family environment brings the rivalry to a head, determining the characters’ decisions and behaviors toward their strained relationship.
“Why I Live at the P.O.” also illustrates the theme of loneliness through the setting of the family. The decision of the protagonist to stay at the post office can be interpreted as a self-imposed isolation that is driven by her will to avoid family problems. She finds comfort and liberation from the pressures of family obligations through distancing. Such isolation is seen in her statement, “I haven’t seen my family for five days and nights now. . . and I don’t want to” (Welty 10). The family environment is the reason why she is choosing to isolate herself and create a place where she can achieve peace.
Welty’s portrayal of the family background also accentuates the idea of social judgment. The protagonist’s decision to live at the post office exposes her to the criticism and gossip of the townsfolk. The family background becomes a platform where the characters’ decisions and behaviors are watched and criticized by others. This judgment is shown in the passage where the protagonist mentions, “I know it made my family a public scandal downtown” (Welty 6). The context of the family determines the characters’ choices as they face the pressure of social norms and opinions.
The value of family in the story is another important theme that is shown through the family setting. Family crises arise from the inadequacies of balancing traditional values with modern views. The protagonist’s decision to live in the post office indicates the change in the family atmosphere and her attempt to break everyday life. The inter-generational divide is seen when the protagonist says, “I am going to get married. . . I am going to marry Mr. Whitaker” (Welty 5). Family relations become the scene for the clash of conflicting ideas, which further makes characters make drastic choices and take actions that hurt other family members.
Welty’s depiction of the family backdrop in the story emphasizes her theme of self-preservation. The protagonist’s act of remaining away from her family portrays the drive to safeguard her emotions, which is her main motive. The family environment becomes a catalyst of emotions, and this eventually forces her to make decisions that will protect her mental and emotional health. This self-protection was visible in the quote, “I’m going to take care of myself” (Welty 9). The family background shapes her orientation, and she tries to set boundaries and defend herself.
Though there are quarrels and backbiting within the family, there are also moments when the members demonstrate their loyalty to the family. The protagonists’ choices and behavior are frequently motivated by their commitment to their particular position inside the family. Although they are at the center of the fight, they stand before their family members, whom they have to choose to support, while also being conflicted by personal desires. This faithfulness is demonstrated through the part where the narrator is thinking, “I have always been a good girl and done everything that is right” (Welty 3). The family environment affects their decisions, as seen through the narrator, who has to balance her conflicting duties with their desires.
In conclusion, Eudora Welty’s “Why I Live at the P.O.” delves into the role that the family environment plays in the development of character choices, actions, and decisions. Welty achieves this through the presentation of the family quarrel in which she uncovers the intricacy of family ties as well as the themes of misunderstanding, resentment, and the search for independence. The conflict within the family becomes the cause of the narrator’s decisions and actions. It creates a craving for freedom, which makes them react to misunderstandings, and it is a form of homesickness. The family atmosphere reveals the characters to social censure and leads to acts of self-preservation and loyalty. While closely reading the story, one picks up the subtleties of the characters’ interrelationships and the significance of the family setting in their lives.
Works Cited
Welty, Eudora. “Why I Live at the P.O.”, in A Curtain of Green (New York, Harcourt, Brace, and Company, 1941).
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Question 
Write a literary analysis (3-5 pages) of Eudora Welty’s, “Why I Live at the P.O. focusing on how family setting influences character choices, actions, or decisions. Do not consult any outside sources. Please refer to the assignment for detailed instructions.
Literary Analysis of Eudora Weltys – Why I Live at the P.O.
Assessment Content:
One of Welty’s recurring themes is the complexity of family connections. As you read “Why I Live at the P.O.,” contemplate the family dynamics at play in the story.
What does Welty seem to be saying universally through the depiction of this individual family’s quarrel?
Be sure to refer to specific passages/quotations as examples to support your opinions. You are not allowed to do outside research. Everything must come from your experience of reading the text,
You can peruse the attached sample student essay to help guide you.