ipl-logo

What Is The Point Of View In Why I Live At The Po

946 Words4 Pages

The Sympathy-Gaining Sister
From an outsider’s point of view, this story might seem like just an average family altercation. However, when Why I Live at the P.O. is told from Sister’s point of view, the reader sympathizes with Sister and respects her decisions. Sister’s sole point in telling this story is to justify her actions and gain the reader’s sympathy. Telling the story from her point of view allows Sister to influence her audience by calling out the reader and belittling Stella-Rondo. However, the reader must also note Sister’s altered state of mind which may contribute to an unreliable retelling of the story.
Although the first-person point of view is used throughout the majority of the story, Welty occasionally used second-person. …show more content…

Sister tells her story in past tense, and her being a significant participant in the action may alter her memory of what actually happened. Sister points out that she is stressed out by Stella-Rondo’s sudden homecoming. She says, “There I was over the hot stove, trying to stretch two chickens over five people and a completely unexpected child into the bargain, without one moment’s notice.” The irritation of suddenly having to cook for more people than she expected may contribute to how Sister reacts to Stella-Rondo’s comments and how she recounts the incident. The stress and irritation are only added when Stella-Rondo turns Papa-Daddy against her. Sister also points out that she has to prepare the green tomato pickle since “Mama had turned both the niggers loose.” Mama shames Stella-Rondo for making such a dish that will not agree with Uncle Rondo or Shirley-T. At this point Sister feels as if she is being criticized by every family member and can not please anyone. Due to this story being told in first-person point of view, it is vital that Sister retell the story exactly as it happens. However, the reader must take into account Sister’s altered state of mind when reading the

Show More
Related

  • Dialectical Journal For The Grapes Of Wrath

    1871 Words  | 8 Pages

    1. The Grapes of Wrath was written by John Steinbeck and is historical fiction. 2. Tom Joad who has recently been released from prison for manslaughter goes back to his family farm in Oklahoma. He becomes acquainted with a preacher named Jim Casey.

    Read More

  • Banshee Lullabies Analysis

    459 Words  | 2 Pages

    How do I know? A. From the author's view is in first person format. The very first sentence gave how the story was told.

    Read More

  • Parenting In Karen Thompson Walker's The Age Of Miracles

    1992 Words  | 8 Pages

    These individuals are very memorable because they influence her character greatly. During the slowing, love and unity have been an important aspect of survival. Though through a rocky path, Julia’s parents have maintained their connection not only for themselves, but for Julia’s sake as well. Learning the importance of love, helps characterize Julia. First, on top of the slowing, many other stressful events have caused a distance in the relationship between Julia’s parents.

    Read More

  • Impostor: A Sequel To Jill Hathaway's Slide

    2038 Words  | 9 Pages

    First person perspective can be categorised into two where one is where the author includes themselves into the story and uses ‘I’ throughout the story. Where the second is the first person peripheral, where the author is the supporting character in the story and not the main person. In his story the author has included herself as vee. The narrator has peeked into each and every character in the story. She has read everyone’s thought and explored multiple fact of the story in depth.

    Read More

  • What Is Odd Thomas In The Sixth Sense

    375 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story unfolds from the first-person perspective, which results in a little nudging and winking, but it also brings a powerful sense of urgency to the story. We

    Read More

  • Examples Of Obscurity In Milkman

    1923 Words  | 8 Pages

    Throughout the novel, most of the people middle sister interacts with are given descriptions based on how they relate to either middle sister or the community, rather than an actual name. The first sentence of the book is an example of this impersonal and detached way that middle sister interacts with everything and everyone around her: “[t]he day Somebody McSomebody put a gun to my breast and called me a cat and threatened to shoot me was the same day the milkman died” (Burns 1). From the outset, we see a strange and eerie avoidance of specific details. This is further seen in how middle sister describes the people closest to her, such as her “maybe-boyfriend” or her “eldest sister” (Burns 8,1). This technique indicates the lack of intimacy between characters, or the intentional distance that middle sister wishes to put between herself and those around her.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Story 'Angel Park Hoop Stars'

    567 Words  | 3 Pages

    I know it was third person because it used words like, he and they. If this story was written in a different point of view, like in 1st person, I think the story would be different depending on who’s perspective the story would be written in. I personally think the story would be more interesting if it were told from Miles or Jackie’s point of view. I think it would be interesting to know how they thought Harlan played those first two games and the last one.

    Read More

  • Coming Of Age In Mississippi By Anne Moody

    592 Words  | 3 Pages

    She is utterly confused by their skin color and wonders why her uncles are white. When she asks Mama about it, she shuts down coldly. From this moment it is clear that Mama ignores and

    Read More

  • The Christmas Miracle Analysis

    596 Words  | 3 Pages

    Incest is the undisclosed secret that has not been mentioned at all, even when the signs are noticeable. When the pedophile uncle positions himself to constantly get down on the floor so he can peek up under the dress of an innocent six-year-old, everybody sees it, but no one dares to mention anything about it, intervene on it, try to stop it, or try to protect the little girl. The author and her sister go to such dysfunctional lengths to disregard what they see that one can deduce that they have their own incestuous experiences with an uncle or family member as well. These are symbols are of deep dark emotional trauma that will take years of therapy to recover from. The author perverts the situation even further by using symbols of distrust by the family ignoring what the pedophile uncle is doing and

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Connie In Joyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

    1415 Words  | 6 Pages

    “But now her looks were gone and that was why she was always after Connie.” (Oates ). Also, there is another opportunity for friendship within the family, between Connie and her sister, however, that is lost in their rivalry and hostility. “Her sister was so plain and chunky and steady that Connie had to hear her praised all the time – by her mother and her mother's sisters.” ( ).

    Read More

  • Point Of View In The Lady With The Dog By Raymond Carver

    1098 Words  | 5 Pages

    The different uses of point of view in a short story can influence how the reader interprets the text. For example, the short story "Cathedral" incorporates the use of first person. First person point of view is when a narrator conveys an experience from their perspective. By choosing to use first person narrative, the author allows the reader to gain a concise understanding of how the narrator is thinking and feeling. First person narrative is often used because it allows the reader to better understand the context of the text and the story becomes more intimate for the reader.

    Read More

  • Comparing The Tell-Tale Heart And A Good Man Is Hard To Find

    655 Words  | 3 Pages

    “True!- nervous-very,very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” (par. 1) First person point of view is unique, because it shows the reader every thought of the main character. Other points of view convey the thoughts

    Read More

  • The Sky Is Everywhere Analysis

    1211 Words  | 5 Pages

    Grief is a difficult subject to write about. Especially when wanting to write about the life of a teenage girl after her sister 's death. Jandy Nelson, author of The Sky is Everywhere, tells a heartbreaking story about life after death. Unlike many young adult novels, The Sky is Everywhere talks about serious problems that many teenagers face. Nelson crafts a perfect story that is inspiring and tragic.

    Read More

  • Psychoanalytical Criticism Of Turn Of The Screw By Henry James

    1622 Words  | 7 Pages

    The governess’ need to be the woman of the house and compete with the others for the affections of the uncle, combined with the loneliness could have driven her to madness. The uncle left

    Read More

  • Harry Potter Literary Analysis

    891 Words  | 4 Pages

    literary analysis: Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets I’ve read Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets, a book written by J.K. Rowling. It’s the second book in a series of 7. The book is about Harry Potter, a 12-year-old wizard going to Hogwarts. This year, people are getting stupefied without anyone knowing the reason behind it.

    Read More

More about What Is The Point Of View In Why I Live At The Po

Open Document