The Optimist's Daughter

Introduction

The optimist's daughter is a short novel written by Eudora Welty in 1972. The story has created a profound impact on the readers by engaging them from start to the end. Due to the mixture of drama, climax and emotion the story has received Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Background of the story

The main character of the story is Laurel Hand who was a textile designer in Chicago. She moved to New Orleans to help her father who was going through an eye surgery. There, she met her step mother, Fay. She was not able to get along with her, due to her selfish and materialistic nature. On the other hand, the eye surgery did not help her farther and his condition got worsen. After his death, the two women buried him in Mount Salus Mississippi. However, when Laurel Hand returned to her hometown, she was lost in the memories of her past. She received a warm response from her family and friends and she was overwhelmed with the feeling of love and friendship. She spent time in her old house remembering her childhood and the moments that she has left behind several years before.

The narrative structure of the story

The narrative structure of the story displayed the following themes due to which the reader found the novel very catchy and inspiring.

Exposition

The exposition of the characters was catchy and has the feminist touch. The novel began with introducing a textile designer whose only family was her father who went through the eye surgery and was struggling for his life. It slowly revealed the true face of her step mother and tensions in the house. The initial half of the story explains the condition and feeling of the woman who was doing her best to save her father who was her ...