Feminist Readings of Weltys The Golden Apples :: Endora Welty The Golden Apples

Feminist Readings of Weltys The Golden ApplesJennifer Thomas writes in her article about a weigh of short fiction done by Carol Ann Johnston. The study targets feminist readings of Weltys writings and focuses primarily on female characters of her works. When discussing The Golden Apples, Thomas determines it was the tour de force, or exceptional achievement, in Johnstons study of Weltys collections.In Johnstons study she writes of the self-realized women of The Golden Apples, using character Virgie Rainey as her example. The critical article contends that in Johnstons study, her selection of contemporary critics Daniale Pitavy-Souques and Patricia Yaeger are excellent choices to include since they had recently assessed Welty within currents of modernism and feminism. She then goes on to critique Johnston for oversimplification of the terms of the stories she is analyzing by citing an example from June RecitalAn angry old man flaps open his bathrobe, exposing himself to young girls taking their piano lessons in June Recital, a display that provides, according to Johnston a blatant show of phallic strength, as he attempts to silence the female voice.In the context of the story, however, the storyteller deliverly voices her estimate of this old turkey gobbler and suggests he poses no such potent threat. Some of Johnstons most convincing readings concern Weltys assignment with her characters, refuting the impudence that the heroine is the authors stand-in. By keeping her eye on the writer of June Recital, Johnston astutely reminds us Welty identifies with Miss Eckhart, but she writes Virgies story. (Thomas)I strongly agree with Johnstons statement that Welty has identification to her characters, whether lettered or not. She notes that although she believes Welty identifies with Miss Eckhart in June Recital, she writes the story for Virgie. Consistently in her stories in The Golden Apples, she writes of sheltered individuals within a close community. Johnston addresses only the identification Welty has to her characters, instead of digging deeper into relational issues. I find it fascinating that in The Golden Apples, Welty paints a picture of Miss Eckharts life as being ideal, free to follow her own passion and art, which in Miss Eckharts case was her piano teaching, or in Weltys life, her photography and even her writing. And at the same time, Miss Eckhart has failed relationships and an overall lonely sense about her.