Week Two

Reading Two: "Why I Live at the P.O."

1. How much of what Sister reports can we believe?
I suppose while reading this I can believe the reports. One aspect that may make the audience to think otherwise would be how cruel the family was to Sister. However, there are families such as these in the world. You can not always believe everything you see, hear, or read; however, you believe what you choose to believe.

2. Does she appear to have good reasons to resent Stella-Rondo? Why does Sister insist that Stella-Rondo's daughter is not adopted?
Sister resents Stella-Rondo, because she was spoiled and got Mr. Whitaker to leave Sister and married Stella-Rondo instead. As average human beings we make others suffer in our benefit and there is resentment and anger from the victims.

"Of course I noticed at once she looks like Mr. Whitaker's side too. That frown. She looks like a cross between Mr. Whitaker and papa-daddy" (p. 660).

3. Why does Mama accept Stella-Rondo's story that Shirley-T. is adopted?
Stella-Rondo's is the spoiled child and the parents give Stella-Rondo whatever she wants. Stella-Rondo got papa-daddy to turn against Sister. Since everybody turned against Sister then Mama has to. Mama states within the text that she believe what her child tells her. Mama is another factor of spoiling Stella-Rondo to the core.

4. How would you characterize the other members of Sister's family? Stella-Rondo? Mama? Papa-Daddy? Uncle Rondo?
Sister-Has her own mind, but her family does not give her much credit or attention.
Stella-Rondo- Sister's younger sister--spoiled, stuck up, secretive, observant
Mama- she is more of in the back of the scene; she has to agree with her husband most the time and worries about every bodies health, caring
Papa-Daddy- stubborn, leader, angry, unwilling, mind set on his own beliefs, not optimistic
Uncle Rondo- "...Mama's only brother and is a good case of a one-track mind" (p.662). Gets drunk every fourth of July, quick temper, aggressive

5. Is there a realistic way to account for the melodrama of Sister's family life, or is Welty merely exaggerating for comic effect? What do you make of Sister's revelation at the end of the story that she has been living at the P.O. "for five solid days and nights"?
There is some realistic to Sister's story regarding family affairs, I mean we are human! However as the audience we were not there seeing this all happen, so Welty could be exaggerating for comic effect. I suppose it all comes down to, what do you believe as the reader? 

Honestly, I am proud of Sister for what she did. I would have done the same exact thing as she did. If she lived with a family that is cruel and only puts you down, why stay? Clearly the family does not show any compassion or love for Sister according to the story. I give props to Sister for walking out of life destroying stress with her family. Families are not perfect; therefore, sometimes the best thing for kids is to just cut off from the family that does not act like family.