The Optimist's Daughter

In addition to Welty’s presentation of Laurel’s love and devotion to her family, she also depicts a wide variety of other family relationships, including the Dalzell family, the Chisom family, and Tish, Mrs. Tennyson, and Major Bullock. Choose a family other than Laurel’s and discuss the author’s treatment of the dynamics between siblings, parents, and/or spouses. How do they differ from or appear similar to the primary familial dynamics in Laurel’s relationship with her father and mother?

Major Bullock is depicted as drunk and overtly worried about Fay at the funeral. Describe his character and his relationship to the people around him. What do you think Welty’s intention is in having him show his sympathy toward Fay? What is the reaction of his wife and others around him during the wake? Why does he fabricate the details of the Judge’s stories?

Welty includes elements of contrast to create tension in the story. The main contrast in characters is between Fay and Laurel. Choose three examples of the contrasts she depicts between characters and explain how they create tension.