Supporting Paragraph: “A Visit of Charity” by Eudora Welty
Thesis: The identity and dignity of the elderly in American society are often taken from
them by a “younger” society.
The author uses the characters metaphorically to reflect society’s relationship with
the elderly. This is very apparent in the scene where Marion and the Nurse approach the
room of two antagonistic old ladies. They bicker over what appears to be inconsequential
things such as the flowers that Marion brings or Addie’s birthday. However, perhaps
these arguments are more consequential than they appear. The Nurse often objectifies
these elderly women. “This decided the nurse . . . ‘There are two to each room,’ the
Nurse remembered over her shoulder” (26). It seems ironic that earlier the Nurse had
recognized Marion’s plant by its Latin name, yet she leaves the girl with these old women
without introduction—as if they are not part of her world, her humanity. Marion, too, is
self-interested, oblivious of these women as people. “Marion wished she had the little
pot [the plant] back. . . . she’d forgotten to look at the plant herself before giving it away.
What did it look like?” (27). Marion’s indifference is clear and her gift of charity is
transparent. She, too, does not recognize these women as human beings. These
unfortunate old women, who have no control over their lives! Addie says, “’It’s not my
birthday! No one knows when that is but myself . . .’” (28). In fact, it may be her
birthday but Addie’s denial is speaking to something deeper and more desperate than this.
Addie wants control over the private information about herself. She hates being an
intimate stranger with a roommate with whom she’ll reside for the rest of her life. In
fact, she rails at her roommate, “’You’re a stranger—a perfect stranger! Is it possible that
they have actually done a thing like this to anyone?’” (29). Addie is incredulous about
her circumstance. How could this have happened to her, a woman who was once young,
vibrant, valued and valuable? Of course, the irony of this scene is that Addie’s roommate
truly is a stranger; we don’t even know her name. In this story, Marion and the Nurse
represent young American society. They are oblivious to the pain and demoralization of
the elderly. Rather, this faction assumes the elderly’s place is in the Home; young
America assumes the devaluation of the elderly. The robotic-like Nurse performs her
duty disinterestedly, perfunctorily, while Marion views these elderly creatures as a
curiosity from which to escape. Tragically, the old ladies recognize their fate and Addie,
for one, mourns the loss of her dignity as does her nameless roommate. Can Welty be
anymore scathing than to devalue this old woman with namelessness? All has been taken
away, including their dignity. And perhaps the greatest tragedy of all is society’s failure
to recognize its “sins” against these elderly. This is only one of Welty’s strategies to
communicate this to her audience. In fact, she uses details of setting with equal
effectiveness.