Analysis Of Eudora Welty's Why I Live At The P. O

Eudora Welty’s “Why I Live at the P.O” describes a Southern American family, narrated by a dominating older sister. Known only as “Sister,” she attempts to convince readers that her family is the reason that she lives at the post office, however, the actions of the wealthy family suggests her unreliability as a narrator. Throughout the manipulating lies within the family, Welty’s classic American comical story relates to mainstream literature throughout the drama of a typical family but the unusual lies and characteristics of the family remain distinct through the bias point of view of the narrator.
The tension between the narrator and her sister, Stella-Rondo, is the central conflict of the story. Initially, Welty reveals Mr. Whitaker, who
At first, Mama seems to be on Stella-Rondo’s side. She forces Sister to apologize to Stella-Rondo and sticks up for her younger daughter when Sister claims that Shirley-T is not actually her adopted. However, Mama also suggests that she is unsure whether or not Shirley-T is adopted. After realizing that Shirley-T had no spoken a word, “Mama and I [Sister] stood there and stared at each other. It was horrible” (435). At this point, it is clear that Mama does not know for sure that Stella-Rondo’s daughter is adopted. Mama is an important character because she validates both sides of the conflict.
Ultimately, Shirley-T is the outcome of the manipulating lies running throughout the family. First off, it is unclear whether or not Shirley-T is adopted. Finding out the two year old was able to tap dance and talk perhaps suggests the young girl is older than Stella-Rondo had said. Additionally, the physical appearance of Shirley-T also questions her background. “I didn’t mean a thing, only that whoever Shirley-T was, she was the spit-image of Papa-Daddy if he’d cut off his beard” (432). It is also ironic that Shirley-T sticks out her tongue out Sister because even she picks up that everyone hates