A Visit Of Charity

A Less Than Charitable Visit

"A Visit of Charity" was written by Eudora Welty and published in 1941. The story takes place during the winter probably sometime in the late thirties. The story describes a fourteen year old girls visit to a nursing home. I think that the story accurately depicts some of the scenes and atmospheres associated with nursing homes. I do not sympathize with the girl because she is only there to earn extra points as a Campfire Girl.

I don't sympathize with Marian because she fails to show proper respect for these ladies. For example, she refers to the nursing home as "the Old Ladies Home" (606). People don't generally choose to be in a nursing home. They are there because they can no longer care for themselves. When she walks in she tells the nurse at the desk "I have to pay a visit to some old lady" (604). This is not a nice way for her to refer to her elders. Many of them are lonely. They have lost their husbands and their families rarely visit, if ever. They are so appreciative for any opportunity to converse with someone. Marian seems to be there for the points that she can earn as a Campfire Girl. She is not thinking of the ladies feelings. She is only concerned with what she can gain from this visit.

I also don't sympathize with her because she makes several references to sheep when describing the ladies and their actions. She refers to "a bleating sheep" (604) when describing the sound that one of the ladies make while clearing her throat. She describes another lady as having "a bunchy white forehead and red eyes like a sheep" (605). According to Encarta Dictionary, a sheep is "a mammal raised for wool and meat". Once a sheep have served this purpose they are no longer of any importance to us. She appears to feel as though these ladies have lived their lives and served their purpose so they're not important