A Curtain of Green

Eudora Welty’s collection of short stories, A Curtain of Green, examines her home state, Mississippi, through the eyes of its own people. Welty crafts her short stories to portray both the stark realities of Mississippi, and the comedy that pervades the ordinary lives of its citizens. However, Welty also infuses elements of horror into these works that are quite reminiscent of Poe; madness and violence are two common themes found throughout the collection. Additionally, she examines the state of race relations, sexual repression, and the slowly changing social roles of women in the South. Despite some of the shortcomings of her region, Welty seems to view Mississippi as a mystical and somewhat magical place, where the most mundane of tasks can turn into a fascinating experience.

Throughout most of the short stories, Welty uses dark, foreboding settings to create a mood that has frightening undercurrents. She not only uses the quintessential dilapidated house, but also utilizes barren fields and unchartered roads as the setting for her works. In “Death of A Traveling Salesman” the unknown road reinforces the theme of loneliness; whereas the landscape of “A Worn Path” presents Phoenix Jackson with a terrifying array of obstacles that she most overcome in order to get medicine for her grandson. In my mind, Welty is a master at establishing the mood through the distinct idiosyncrasies of her settings.

Welty’s short stories also capture the oppressive forces that marginalize minorities, especially women, throughout the South. “The Petrified Man” captures the sexual tension of women, which undoubtedly takes its toll on its female characters who have no outlet to express their frustration. “A Curtain of Green” and “Clytie” also represent two short stories that portray an overwhelming sense of madness that overtakes women left to manage a household; their fear and lack of companionship manifests in derangement. However, “A Worn Path” captures the frustration of Phoenix Jackson, an older African American woman, who embarks on a tumultuous journey out of the deep love that she feels for her grandson. A dog, heavy brush, a man with a gun, and her old age all deter her from her goal; however, she endures these hardships out of the devotion that she has for her loved one. In the same vein as O’Connor, Welty portrays women characters who have experienced much strife, yet still manage to keep going.