Unpacking the Symbolism in Welty's 'Why I Live at the P.O.' Story

This essay delves into the various symbols present in Eudora Welty's 'Why I Live at the P.O.,' focusing on how these symbols contribute to the story's overall meaning. It identifies the Fourth of July as a symbol of the protagonist's declaration of independence, and Stella-Rondo's return is analyzed through the lens of the Prodigal Son parable, highlighting the family dynamics and resentment. The post office itself is a crucial symbol, representing communication and Sister's central role in the town's exchange of information. The essay also examines the symbolism inherent in the characters, particularly Sister, whose identity is intertwined with her family, and Shirley T., who symbolizes the unpleasant lies families perpetuate. Ultimately, the essay concludes that the story is rich with layered symbols that illuminate the complexities of Sister's life and her relationships.

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SYMBOLISM IN WHY I LIVE AT THE P.O
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author Note:
SYMBOLISM IN WHY I LIVE AT THE P.O
The aim of this essay is to discuss the symbolism in Why I Live At The P.O, written by
Eudora Welty. In this particular story, the author has detailed the story of a woman living in a
small town of Mississippi. She has set up a housekeeping in post office for escaping her odd
family. A story is full of symbol which has relevant and intense meaning woven in its every
sentence.
The 4th of July is an important symbol as this day decides the fate of the protagonist. This
story takes place in 4th July when Sister decides to live at the PO. It is the day she declared her
independence to her family. Another symbol such as The Prodigal has a biblical connection with
it. The return of Stella-Rondo has been associated with the story of the return of prodigal son
when the story is seen from the point of view of Sister. From this perception, Stella-Rondo has
symbolised the leaving of the ungrateful person whose return must be igniting some sense of
resentment in the family but actually ignites a sense of joy and welcoming feeing (Gale).
The symbol of the post office in this story has very important aspect to discover. The post
office where the protagonist lives, is the centre of communication for the town. In this place, the
information comes from outside and goes out to that world from those who live there. This is the
reason why the Sister settles here and overcome the problem of communication with the family
members. Sister desired to talk to somebody and share her feelings with the others but in home,
no one talks to her and she cannot talk to them (Gale). This is why the post office represents a

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symbolic place which does not only make the communication possible but also places Sister at
the centre of all communication in the town.
The character of Sister is itself a symbol in the story. As the symbol, this name provides a
tremendous insight into why the narrator feels the way she does toward not just Stella-Rondo but
her entire family. The identity of Sister has been intricately connected to that of her sister.
Therefore, Sister is not just a name but the entity who connects her family deeply. Stella-Rondo
is deeply connected with her family that Sister hence her application is more symbolic of the
distressing reality in the story.
Among with these, the entity Shirley T. is seen to be a symbol of unpleasant lies which
families believe to cover up even more bitter truth (Gale). The parentage of this little girl is
questionable as well as suspected. She has resemblance with Papa-Daddy and seem to he his
child as Sister started seeing Mr. Whitaker. It symbolises the darker explanation for real
parentage and the girl is the outcome of an unpleasant lie. Therefore, it can be concluded that the
story Why I Live At The P.O, has different layers of symbols, all connecting to the life of the
Sister.

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References:
Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Eudora Welty's" Why I Live at the PO". Gale,
Cengage Learning, 2016.