A Look Into “the Welcome Table” with Religion and Racism
A look into “The Welcome Table” with Religion and Racism
Eng 125: Introduction to Literature
Floyd J. Maulding Jr.
January 22, 2012
The short story chosen is Alice Walker’s The Welcome Table which is in Chapter 3.1 in R. Wayne Clugston’s Introduction into Literature. , this is a story that talks racism and religion. This story shows how when people believe that they are in the right; there is no place for segregation. Jesus takes us as who we are we just need to have faith in him kind to others.
Now, I know there are many religions in today’s world. But the author Alice Walker wrote this story during a time when racism between whites and blacks were at a high. The story is themed around the Christian religion and the bigotry that existed even in the church (the house of god) when there should have been a common goal of coming together in worship. I believe the story is meant to open the eyes of others into forgetting that we are made different and that we all are God’s children. When you look at the small spiritual quote meant for sister Clara Ward it gives you quick glimpse of what the story is about: “Walk and talk with Jesus” and “Tell God how you treat me.” (Walker, par. 1) To me the theme is the age old saying “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The story had a very compelling plot. A plot is described in our book as: “a dynamic element in fiction, sequence of interrelated, conflicting actions and events that typically build to a climax and bring about a resolution.” (Clugston, chapter. 5.1) A Plot has five different parts: Exposition, Complication, Climax, Falling action and a Resolution. Let’s look at the story in all five parts.
The first part is the setting or the exposition. The author discusses the old woman’s Sunday clothing: high polished shoes, rusty dress, and an elegant silk scarf stained with grease. There is little explanation of her life but by reading you could tell that she was an old black woman that may have had a
Eng 125: Introduction to Literature
Floyd J. Maulding Jr.
January 22, 2012
The short story chosen is Alice Walker’s The Welcome Table which is in Chapter 3.1 in R. Wayne Clugston’s Introduction into Literature. , this is a story that talks racism and religion. This story shows how when people believe that they are in the right; there is no place for segregation. Jesus takes us as who we are we just need to have faith in him kind to others.
Now, I know there are many religions in today’s world. But the author Alice Walker wrote this story during a time when racism between whites and blacks were at a high. The story is themed around the Christian religion and the bigotry that existed even in the church (the house of god) when there should have been a common goal of coming together in worship. I believe the story is meant to open the eyes of others into forgetting that we are made different and that we all are God’s children. When you look at the small spiritual quote meant for sister Clara Ward it gives you quick glimpse of what the story is about: “Walk and talk with Jesus” and “Tell God how you treat me.” (Walker, par. 1) To me the theme is the age old saying “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
The story had a very compelling plot. A plot is described in our book as: “a dynamic element in fiction, sequence of interrelated, conflicting actions and events that typically build to a climax and bring about a resolution.” (Clugston, chapter. 5.1) A Plot has five different parts: Exposition, Complication, Climax, Falling action and a Resolution. Let’s look at the story in all five parts.
The first part is the setting or the exposition. The author discusses the old woman’s Sunday clothing: high polished shoes, rusty dress, and an elegant silk scarf stained with grease. There is little explanation of her life but by reading you could tell that she was an old black woman that may have had a
References: Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into Literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books Lewis, J. (n.d.). Alice Walker: Biography of Alice Walker. Retrieved on January 21, 2012, from http://womenshistory.about.com/od/alicewalker/a/alice_walker.htm New World Encyclopedia online. (October 12, 2011). Alice Walker. Retrieved on January 22, 2012, from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Alice_Walker