Group4-Characerization/AmyJohnson

1. The Calamity of Characterization
at its finest…
By:
Amy Johnson
Christian Johnson
Kristen Martin

2. Teacherlingo.com

3. jimaxtell.wordpress.com

4. Recitatif… Coming Into One’s Own…
Roberta
 Main/Major Character
 Protagonist
 Flat/Static Character in beginning of story
 Complex
 Round/Dynamic transformation near end
Twyla
 Main/Major Character
 Protagonist
 Round/Foil Character in beginning of story
 Complex
 Round/Dynamic transformation near end

5. So Close…Yet so Far Away… (a little explaining…)
Roberta
 Beginning: Is more of an observer/spectator to her
surroundings early on
 Next: Begins to break out of her shell and explore the
ever changing world around her
 Midway: Has come into her own and become a
functioning, contributing member of society
 Conclusion: Becomes an outspoken member in the
fight against adversity
Twyla
 Beginning: Tells the story from her perspective (POV)-
portrays leadership of sorts
 Next: Becomes more passive in her personality- would
rather blend in than stand out
 Midway: Remains content with her “normal” lifestyle
and existence
 Conclusion: Twyla re-demonstrates her once outward
personality and

6. A Brief Synopsis…
Two young girls with very different backgrounds find themselves with similar fates in the hands that life has dealt to them. Both Roberta and
Twyla were placed in the state’s care while both of their mother’s were evaluated and helped for their own issues. The story, “Recitatif”
revolves around both the contrasts and comparisons that each of these girls face as they come into adulthood. The girls bonded during the
trauma of being displaced, and focused very little, if any on the actual obvious differences between them (race).
In the next segment of Ms. Morrison’s tale, we see that the girls have now begun to progress into adulthood- each taking different turns. Twyla
has found her nice in a small town diner and is settled in her mediocre life. Twyla seems to want to become a person who is not anything at all
like her mother. While Roberta on the other hand has branched and chosen to embrace life in an uninhibited manner. She chooses to dress
with the times and travel about following her spirit.
At the pivotal turning point, both ladies ironically find themselves residing in the same small town. Here is where we find Twyla, once again
teetering within her complacent world, married with a young son. And, now, Roberta seems to have come into her own, developing into a well
established and cultured woman. The reader can not help but notice the stark differences in how each character has chosen to follow their life
paths. Twyla- timid and reserved not wanting to rock any boat as long as she is doing good enough”. Roberta has seemingly taken what has
been given to her and truly made the most of it, blossoming into a fighter who grew opposition defiant in her fight to break cycles.
Upon the conclusion of “Recitatif”, Twyla and Roberta have a final “face off”. At this point in time, everything they have encountered thus far
can be considered null and void. The true differences they possessed the entire story comes to surface. They both become strong, proud,
outspoken members in support of their separate races and choose to fight for what each of them feel is right within their hearts and minds.

7. www.womenactionmedia.org

8. bookishnerd.com

9. Why I live at the P.O… Family Feuds at their Finest…
Sister
 Main/Major Character
 Antagonist
 Dynamic/Round Portrayal
 *Static
Stella Rondo
 Main/Major Character
 Antagonist
 Dynamic/Round Portrayal
 *Static *Anti-hero

10. Family Ties…
Mama
 Minor Character
 Indifferent
 Flat Character
 *Static
Uncle Rondo
 Minor Character
 Indifferent
 Flat Character
 *Static

11. …And so are the days of Our Lives…
Sister
 Story is told from Sister’s Point of View (POV)
 Beginning: Sister portrays a jealous demeanor upon the
return of her sister, Stella Rondo
 In the Midst: Sister continues her derogatory thoughts
and actions toward Stella Rondo
 Conclusion: Sister ultimately decides that she no longer
has a fair place at home and in defiance moves to the
P.O where she works
Stella Rondo
 Stella Rondo is typical birth order youngest child
 Beginning: Stella Rondo returns home after her
attempt to leave small town life fails miserably
 In the Midst: Stella Rondo depicts herself in an
”innocent” fashion- placing blame on sister for any
faults
 Conclusion: Stella Rondo continues the games she has
grown accustomed to denying any acceptance of
personal responsibility

12. …To Sum It Up…
“Why I live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty is a funny story in a sad sort of way. The piece is told in first person point of view, by sister. Sister
seems to be considered the glue that helps hold the family together as she has maintained her presence in both home and town in order to do
so. We have to be careful when reading, as Sister is not likely to be considered a reliable narrator due to the fact that her feelings have been
hurt and she harbors jealousy toward her Stella. It seems as though the relationship between the siblings has been almost frozen in time as
they banter back and forth unmercifully, tattling and lying just as if they were children. It doesn’t seem to help matters for anyone that both
Mama and Uncle Rondo partake in the antics fueling both sides of the fire.
Sister feels justified in her feelings because Stella Rondo ran off to marry Mr. Whitaker who had been her suitor originally. Not only did Stella
steal her boyfriend, she also had the chance to make it out of small town life. When Stella Rondo returns with a baby who resembles Whitaker,
yet she refuses to accept reality and instead conjures up a lie stating the child was adopted floors Sister to no avail. That in addition to her
Mama and Uncle Rondo ignoring the obvious and taking sides (as usual) with Stella defeats Sister’s morale even more so.
Stella Rondo- the girl that refuses to “grow up” has more issues than most. She returns to the comfort of “home” seeking the doting nature of
her family with the exception of Sister’s. Perhaps Mama, Papa-Daddy and Uncle Rondo realize the fragile state of Stella Rondo and coddle her
to avoid potential tragedy. Either way, they aid to the creation of a dysfunctional family dynamics that many of us can sympathize with in one
way or another.
In a family chock full of their own individual issues, Sister chooses to seek refuge and breaks away from the monotonous life she has always
lived, when she realizes that things are not going to get better- only worse. Ms. Welty paints a vivid picture of famiy involvement and creates
characters that the reader can identify with easily.

13. Baddestmotherever.com

14. Works Cited
“Baddest Mother Ever.” Baddest Mother Ever. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Mar.2014
“Bookish Nerd.” Bookish Nerd. N.p., Web. 17 Mar. 2014.
“Jimaxtell.” Jimaxtell. N.p., Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
Mays, Kelly J. he Norton Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. New York: Norton, 201. Print.
“Teacher Lingo.” Teacher Lingo. N.p., Web. 18 Mar. 2014