A visit of Charity is a short story by Eudora Welty. It was first published in 1941 and later collected in A Curtain of Green and Other Stories. The story is about a young girl named Marian who visits an old woman in a nursing home.
Marian is a member of the Junior League, a group of wealthy young women who volunteer their time to visit the elderly and sick. She is assigned to visit Mrs. Coolidge, an old woman who is said to be very difficult. When Marian arrives at the nursing home, she is greeted by the nurse, who tells her that Mrs. Coolidge is not feeling well and may not be able to see her.
Marian goes into Mrs. Coolidge’s room anyway, and finds the old woman in bed. Mrs. Coolidge is very weak and frail, and she doesn’t want to talk to Marian. She tells Marian to leave her alone and go away.
Marian doesn’t want to leave, but she knows she has to. As she’s leaving, she sees a bird outside the window and it makes her feel better.
A visit of Charity is a touching story about compassion and humanity. It shows how even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.
In Eudora Welty’s short story “A Visit of Charity,” a fourteen-year-old Campfire girl named Marian goes to a senior residence in order to earn points. Marian’s hesitant trek from the bus stop to the nursing home reflects the author’s aim to show a kid’s encounter with old people through feelings and details of her behavior.
Even though it is a short story, the author does an excellent job of making the reader feel as if they are apart of Marian’s experience.
The story begins with Marian waiting at a bus stop for a bus that will take her to an elderly home. The bus stop is described as being hot and sticky, which creates an uncomfortable setting for the reader. As Marian waits, she thinks about the various ways she could have earned points for the Campfire Girls. She eventually decides that visiting the elderly was the best option because it would be the quickest way to earn points.
Marian finally arrives at the nursing home and is immediately greeted by two elderly women. One woman is sitting in a wheelchair while the other is sitting in a rocking chair. The two women are described as being very old and frail. Marian begins to feel uncomfortable and out of place. She then thinks about how she would rather be anywhere else but there.
The two women begin to ask Marian questions about her life and what she likes to do. Marian is not very forthcoming with her answers and instead just gives short, one-word responses. The two women continue to ask questions and eventually start to tell Marian about their lives. They tell her about their families, their homes, and their favorite things to do.
Marian begins to feel more comfortable with the two women and starts to open up more. She tells them about her family, her friends, and what she likes to do. The two women seem to be very interested in Marian and her life. They even laugh at some of the things she says.
Eventually, it is time for Marian to leave. The two women tell her that she is welcome to come back and visit anytime. Marian thanks them and says that she will. As she walks back to the bus stop, Marian thinks about how much she enjoyed her visit. She even begins to think about the possibility of going back to visit the two women again.
The author provides graphic details to assist the audience comprehend how terrible this experience was for the youngster. The title contradicts the story’s message, charity implies generosity or caring for others, and no one in this narrative demonstrates it. People’s self-centeredness and lack of empathy might cause them to overlook other people’s humanity and requirements.
The author challenges the readers to think about what it means to be charitable. A visit of Charity is a short story by Eudora Welty that was first published in 1941. It follows a young girl who goes to visit some old ladies in a nursing home.
The story opens with the protagonist, a young girl, being told by her teacher to go visit some old ladies in a nursing home as an act of charity. The girl is not very excited about this task, but she goes along with it anyway. When she arrives at the nursing home, she is immediately uncomfortable and out of place. The old ladies there are very unkind to her, and she quickly realizes that they do not want her there. She tries to leave, but they force her to stay and listen to their stories.
The old ladies tell the girl about their lives, and it quickly becomes clear that they are all very unhappy. They talk about their families, who have all abandoned them, and their regrets in life. They are all bitter and resentful, and the girl cannot understand why they are so mean to her. She finally escapes from the home, and she is relieved to be out of there.
The story ends with the girl reflecting on what she has just experienced. She feels sorry for the old ladies, but she is also glad that she does not have to go back there again. She wonders if anyone ever really cares about anyone else, or if everyone is just selfish and cruel. A visit of Charity is a powerful story about humanity and the importance of kindness. It shows that even the smallest act of compassion can make a difference in someone’s life.
A winter’s day at a retirement home is the setting. Outside of the property, there are “sharp, dark bushes that the city had embellished the residence with.” These surroundings suggest discomfort and abandonment. The ambiance implies anxiety. Inside the building, Marian winds up going to a gloomy room with drawn curtains and excessive amounts of furniture.
A “dreadful smell” hangs in the air. Marian begins to feel as if she can’t breathe. The home is a place for forgotten old women. They are no longer able to take care of themselves and are waiting to die. The protagonist, Marian, is a teenager who is visiting the home as part of her school’s charity work. She is accompanied by two other girls, Nancy and Aileen. When they enter the home, they are met with looks of suspicion from the residents.
Marian is assigned to visit Mrs. Wilkins, who is bedridden and very old. When Marian enters her room, she is immediately overwhelmed by the smell. Mrs. Wilkins is unkempt and her bed is covered in soiled sheets. Marian tries to engage Mrs. Wilkins in conversation, but she is unresponsive. Eventually, Mrs. Wilkins falls asleep and Marian is able to leave the room.
When she rejoins her friends, they tell her that their experience was similar. They all agree that the home is a depressing place and they are glad to be leaving. As they walk away, Marian wonders why anyone would want to live in such a place.