Rejoice: A Review of
“The Welcome Table” by Alice Walker
Maka K. Taylor
Ashford University
Prairie Markussen
ENG125/Intro to
Literature
February 14, 2013
Abstract
Using Ashford University’s Discovery
Series textbook, Journey into Literature (R. Wayne Clugston-2010); I have read
and reviewed a short story by Pulitzer prize winning activist and author; Alice
Walker.
Keywords: suffer, welcome table, activist,Alice Walker, #BlackLivesMatter, #ToHellw/Dying #redemption
The
short story I will review in this paper is “The Welcome Table” written by
Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and peace activist; Alice Walker. The theme of
the story is triumph despite tribulation. In the preface of the story Walker
says I’m going to tell him how you treated me. The statement is insinuative of comeuppance
and successful retreat. The story tells of an “old woman” who enters somewhere
she does not belong. The story depicted “the old woman” as “dusty” and unkempt;
from the reading I deduce that she entered a church where the “good” people
decided she did not belong amongst them. The church people took action;
ultimately throwing the woman out of the church. Upon her removal she sees
“Jesus” and they begin walking together and she receives her place at the table
to tell him of how they treated her. The theme of the text illustrates the
disregard of the human self by humans. In further review I sense allegory in
this story; I think the old lady is symbolic of lowest rung on the human
hierarchy and the good church people represent the cream of the crop of
society. The reaction of the good church people to the old woman is reticent of
the invisible—all noticing eye of upper crust society. Ultimately the story
represents the paradox of the human dynamic, its’ incumbent response to that
which it deems unfit, and the text, as a by- product; hints to the scripture “the
meek will inherit the earth”.
I
enjoyed reading this story, in the story it is stated that the old lady looked,
to know suffering. I think this text is key in setting the tone for the story.
In a word I was transmuted into the story; the physicality of her character,
illustrated “suffering” and I was at that church door with her. I have been
acquainted with suffering; this is the tone of the story; in my humble
assertion. I felt the anticipation of opening the door of the church; her
entrance and procession to the pew. I
was thrown out of the church with her and my eyes lit up at the reading of” I
would know him anywhere”. Through the tone of the story I found myself
empathizing with the old woman and celebrating her opportunity to “tell God how you treat me”. I reveled in
her right to exercise herself and walk with her power to conclude her days.
I
would also like to expound on the paradox conveyed via the omniscient voice the
story was delivered. The setting of this story was a church. As previously
referenced the church members aggressively remove this feeble and elderly
woman-----whom the pastor addressed as “Auntie” upon reminding her that this
was not the church she belonged to. I recount the church peoples’ reception of
the elder woman…”Some of them there at the church saw the age,
the dotage, the missing buttons down the front of her mildewed black dress.
Others saw cooks, chauffeurs, maids, mistresses, children denied or smothered
in the deferential way she held her cheek to the side, toward the ground. Many
of them saw jungle orgies in an evil place, while others were reminded of
riotous anarchists looting and raping in the streets. Those who knew the
hesitant creeping up on them of the law, saw the beginning of the end of the
sanctuary of Christian worship, saw the desecration of Holy Church, and saw an
invasion of privacy, which they struggled to believe they still kept.”
In
a house of worship, the house of God; the exact people(souls) who are supposed
to assist and be kind----ultimately fail when the opportunity presents
itself. This woman was not good enough
to worship with the good Christian folk----she was such an aberration that she
was required to be immediately and violently removed from the church.
The
church should; in theory; be a place of resource for the less fortunate. The
church should offer love and salvation to those in need; but; allegorically;
the story is relating to irony in doctrine, life application and visible
values.
I
have stated throughout the paper that I was really taken into this story. I
will also reiterate that I am bias for the motif of this story. Although the
triumph is subjective in nature, again, I am biased; the fact that she gets her
moment to tell the biggest protector of them all how they “treated” her; I find
solace in that thought.
This
is the beauty of the art of the pen; I am very passionate about words and the
various combinations and conclusions that can be created from them. The
narrative elements I spoke about in this story; in this paper, are text
tangible mechanisms that cause a story to come to life. The purpose of
literature; of taking the time to delve into a story is to connect; in some
manner to the story. I seek to find various aspects of self in searching
through the libraries of life; the library is far to vast to absorb in a single
lifetime----so we are blessed to have the writings of the ages and the “creative’s”
find modern myriad media to share one side of a two headed coin. The narrative
elements evoke the human emotion epitomal to espousing the story intrinsically
and initially.
I
would also be remiss if I did not use the word rejoice in review of this story.
It seems there were varied accounts of her whereabouts; but the voice
said---“she would know him anywhere”. Be it literal, metaphoric or delusional;
the fact that this woman found her reprieve after what seemed to have been a
life of constant suffering; is food for my soul. -----“The Welcome Table—Alice
Walker”
References
Journey into Literature-R. Wayne Clugston/2010
The Welcome Table-Alice Walker
No comments:
Post a Comment