Eudora Welty and Alice Walker both create believable and well-developed characters in their works. However, Walker, as a black author writing about black women, has an insider’s perspective on the subject matter. This allows her to tell the story through her own cultural lens, bringing readers closer to the characters.
The central character in Weltys A Worn Path is Phoenix, who is described in the third person. The story provides wonderful details about Phoenix, allowing the reader to learn a great deal about her. Phoenix’s age is evident from the numerous branching wrinkles that make a distinctive pattern on her skin. Her apron, made from bleached sugar sacks, hints at her likely poverty as she utilized sack material to create it. Through external factors such as appearance, movements, and actions, the reader gains an understanding of Phoenix.
Alice Walker’s story, “Everyday Use,” is narrated in first person. The central character, Mama, provides a vivid description of the setting: “I will wait for her in the yard that Maggie and I made so clean and wavy yesterday afternoon.” Mama’s perspective allows us to see others through her eyes, giving the story a more personal touch compared to Eudora Welty’s third person narrative. Through Mama’s character, Walker provides numerous insights and observations, making it easier for readers to connect with and relate to them.
In Eudora Welty’s A Worn Path, Phoenix’s inner thoughts are revealed through her self-directed speech. As she faces the creek on her journey, she exclaims, “Now comes the trial.” Upon successfully crossing, she reflects to herself, “I wasn’t as old as I thought.” In contrast, Mama, in Alice Walker’s Everyday Use, openly shares her thoughts with the reader. The statement, “I used to think she hated Maggie, too,” offers insight into her mindset. Unlike Phoenix’s solitary musings, Mama engages in conversations with others. The dynamic interaction between Dee, Mama, Maggie, and Asalamalakim adds depth to the narrative. Through their interactions, the reader gains a deeper understanding of each character.
In each of these stories, racial tension is evident. This is exemplified in “A Worn Path” when Phoenix falls into a ditch and a young white man assists her. Initially, it remains ambiguous whether he is concerned or antagonistic towards her. Both Phoenix and the young man cautiously communicate with each other. “How old are you, Granny?” he asks, to which she responds, “There is no telling, mister, no telling.” Moreover, at the doctor’s office in town, when the nurse poses questions to Phoenix, she chooses not to answer. These instances depict the interaction between white and black individuals. The reader can only discern Phoenix’s thoughts and feelings towards these encounters through her actions and limited speech.
In Everyday Use, racial tension arises when Dee brings her boyfriend and both use intricate African names for themselves. However, Dee and Asalamalakin do not appear genuine. Dee’s response to Mama’s question about what she would do with the quilts she wants to take implies that she would only hang them, as if that were the sole purpose of quilts. The individuals in the story who strive to showcase their modern African identity seem superficial. It is a subtle criticism that a white writer would have difficulty expressing. Alice Walker’s status as a black author grants her the ability to present these delicate intricacies effectively.
Both Alice Walker and Eudora Welty create intriguing and genuine characters. While Eudora skillfully paints a visual portrait of her character Phoenix, Alice Walker is akin to a film producer, presenting the story with vivid imagery, sound, and dialogue, drawing from her personal experiences. It is this firsthand encounter with life that adds authenticity to Walker’s characters.
