Edward Gibbon once said in Memoirs, “My early and invincible love of reading, I would not exchange for the treasures of India.” As agreed in the passage taken from the autobiography, One Writer’s Beginnings, author Eudora Welty is introduced to myriad books as a young child, therefore arouse an enthusiasm for reading and encourages her later career as a novelist. Welty’s success as a writer is explained by her eagerness and sensitivity to literature, Mrs. Calloway’s strict domination of the library, which challenges her determination to read, and her mother’s share of passion for books that encourages her to have a personal relationship with books.
At a young age, Welty’s decision to become a novelist resulted from her urge and passion of reading infinite books from a broad spectrum of sources. Her eagerness to read must be satisfied immediately, and her fear is that of “books coming to an end.” (53) The eagerness in which Welty tries to make her reading time last longer only results in her lack of self control and she finishes reading books too soon. Since Welty’s love of reading is unable to be satisfied by the limited number of “only [two] books” (41) at a time, she dedicates her life to writing, becoming a writer who can be exposed to literature more frequently and be able to create her own inspirational masterpieces. Secondly, Welty’s desires to read books from various sources, “from Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue at Camp Rest-a-While to Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, stood for [her] devouring wish to read being instantly granted” (51).
The Essay on Reading History Read Book Time
My Reading History If one were to look at my varied reading habits, they would be struck by the diversity and over all unusual ness of my mind's library. I hardly remember the plot of the first book I read, but it was called Lonesome Dove. It wasn't the actual first book I read, but I don't really count the McGregor Readers from kindergarten. I read it in first grade because of my Grandmother's ...
As a young child, Welty is so open to books that her mind becomes a complex web of fantasies that satisfies her imagination. This open-mindedness to different sources reveals that “Taste isn’t nearly so important” (52).
Welty’s lack of judgment makes clear her focus on the excitement to explore an unknown world every time she opens a different book, rather than becoming addicted to a specific topic or field. In addition, Welty’s keenness to books makes her “impressionable” (36) to the images and meaning of a book. Welty’s tendency to fall into her surreal world, one created from her passion towards books, can be explained by comparing her to the story character Anne in Anne of Green Gables, to reenact a scene of Elaine’s death from Tennyson’s poem. However, Anne’s romantic idealism from the poetry resulted in disaster when she nearly drowned, due to a hole in the boat’s hull. Similarly, Welty’s unconscious mother, who predicts that Welty, after reading Elsie Dinsmore, will “fall off the piano stool” (31).
As the passage progresses, Welty’s lifelong dedication to literature develops from the value of her reading experiences. In turn, these experiences mold certain facets of her personality until she finally becomes a product of her reading.
Welty makes clear the existence of other fears when she tells of her childhood nightmare, for the austere librarian, Mrs. Calloway, whose strict dominance of the library becomes an obstacle of Welty’s need for an ample supply of books. Mrs. Calloway presence provides an absolute environment of intolerance, shown through omnipresent signs of “SILENCE in big black letters” (7), everywhere in the library. The discomfort caused by the warnings only makes Welty want to quickly borrow her books and escape. Always eyeing the front door, Mrs. Calloway’s “dragon eye” (5) makes her seem like a “witch” (24), initially causes paranoia and intimidation in Welty’s young heart. However, Welty employs her imagination and tendency to animate fiction to overcome her obstacles. Consequently, it is Welty’s self-encouraging personality that allows her to take even better advantage of her situation—by giving her motivation to tap the library’s immense reserves. Instead of hindering her progress, Mrs. Calloway’s restrictions only contribute to the intensity in which Welty grows as an individual from her experiences with reading. Mrs. Calloway’s “normally commanding voice” (9) chases Welty deep into the fairy-tale lands of provided by her stories.
The Essay on Garden Party Setting Mother Mrs
2000-02-07 A summary of the setting in "The Garden-Party" by Katherine Mansfield. The setting in the book The Garden-Party is a very central element in the story. It is a beautiful summer day and a respectable family are having a garden party. All the roses and other flowers are colourful and fresh and the garden is extremely well-kept. The main reason for the garden party seems to be showing-off ...
In addition, Welty emphasizes Mrs. Calloway’s sternness by pointing out her rules “applied as long as [one was] a child and also for the rest of [one’s] life” (42), thereby suggesting that the fear Mrs. Calloway has instilled on her young mind may be permanent. In fact, as an adult, Welty continues to remember the hard circumstances and frustration of entering the library, as she grows older. As a result, Mrs. Calloway’s presence in Welty’s childhood presents itself more as a hindrance than a constructive force, strengthening Welty’s resilient personality. Welty’s ability to transform a seemingly annoying obstacle into a motivating factor for her own development reveals the inner power of her character, ultimately allowing herself to become a successful writer.
Finally after she escapes the watchful eyes of Mrs. Calloways, Welty is able to return home and share her passion for reading with her mother, who empowers the tradition of reading through three generations as well. Since Welty was nine-years-old, her mother gives her the freedom to “have [her] own library card to check out books for [herself]” (22).
Welty’s mother will to introduce Welty a free access to the literature world and developed a personal relationship with books, Welty has “permission to read any book she wants from [the library’s] shelves, children or adult” (26).
This unusual opportunity brings her more insight into reading. In addition, Welty feels a sense of understanding with her mother, who is “very sharing of this feeling of insatiability” (56) Welty feels that her need for reading is secured because her mother shares her passion. Similarly, Welty’s mother reads from diverse topoics ranging from “ The Origin of Species”, The Man in Lower Ten” to “Time Magazine” (58,62,68) Moreover, Welty’s mother belief tha reading can improve a child intellectually as well as emotionally, as when she recalls her mother “taking the part of the Wolf in a game of “Little Red Riding Hood” with the children [of Welty’s brother Walter a generation later” (67).
The Essay on Getting Knowledge from Reading
Reading is the best way to learn different kinds of things. Such as reading recipe books for making delicious dishes, or learning different kinds of language, or cultures. We are starting learning our children at the age of 1 or less. We always start from alphabets. So that, they can makes their habit to read books. I think which is really good for them. But nowadays mostly people don’t like to ...
This continuation of reading habit explains the natural environment Welty was brought into reading habits, as well as how much reading is incorporated into her daily life and family. Welty’s success as a writer is largely contributed to the share of love with her mother, making reading a comfortable environment to her and builds a foundation for her skills as a potential writer.
Eudora Welty exercises her sensitivity to establish a keen relationship with reading, to use this passion to overcome her fear of the austere librarian Mrs. Calloway, and to continue her passion for literature that her mother passes on to her. As Joseph Addison said in Tatler, “Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body. As by the one, health is preserved, strengthened, and invigorated: by the other, virtue (which is the health of the mind) is kept alive, cherished, and confirmed”. Eudora Welty’s childhood reading enables her spirit to stay young and lively to create her own zoo of stores for future generations to enjoy.
