Why I live at the P.O. by Eudora Welty

Introduction

The narrator, easily renowned as "sister," starts the article telling of how she had a fine connection with her family: Mama, Papa-Daddy (her maternal grandfather) and Uncle Rondo. That is, until her junior sister returned dwelling anyway. Stella-Rondo had lately divided from her married man - a man who, Sister points out, utilised to proceed with her until Stella-Rondo "stole" him. Stella-Rondo is the baby of the family by precisely twelve months and Sister states that is why she is so spoiled.

 

Analysis

Sister is distressed that Stella-Rondo habitually gets everything she likes and she just hurls it away. This interprets why; shortly after getting wed to Mr. Whitaker, she divides from him and arrives dwelling with a two-year vintage progeny, Shirley-T (www.southernmuse.com). Mama "pretends" to be distressed with Stella-Rondo for not telling her about the baby, but Stella-Rondo assertions that the baby is adopted. All Sisters can believe about is how extravagant Stella-Rondo's head covering is and how she is going to extend the midday serving of food to feed two more persons when Stella-Rondo reaches dwelling suddenly on the Fourth of July. Sister furthermore remarks that whereas Stella-Rondo assertions that Shirley-T is taken up, she examines just like what Papa-Daddy would gaze like if he cut off his beard. Stella-Rondo instructions Sister not to make any more remarks about her "adopted" daughter (Welty, pp 12-189).

Soon, Uncle Rondo seems in the auditorium wearing Stella-Rondo's flesh-colored kimono. Sister jokingly remarks to him that she does not identify him. He paint brushes past her and broadcasts that he is poisoned. Uncle Rondo has intoxicated a container of costly prescription medicine. He does this every July Fourth and then collapses in the hammock to snore the day away, which is precisely where he is headed. Sister alerts him not to hassle Papa-Daddy in the hammock and interprets what happened. He extends on his way out to the hammock (www.southernmuse.com).

When Uncle Rondo comes to the hammock, Papa-Daddy endeavours to "turn him against Sister" as well. He deplores about Sister's presumed poor reading abilities and wonders how she can even do her job at the P.O. He furthermore praises Stella-Rondo for getting out of town. They extend like this - Papa-Daddy wavering in the hammock and Uncle Rondo pleading with him to halt because he is getting dizzy (Bowers, Jones and Sttot, pp 1027-36).

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