In this seminar paper I am going to deal with Katherine Anne Porter’s short story Old Mortality, which was first published in the Southern Review, in 1937 (Literature Online Biography). Initially, I am going to depict Katherine Anne Porter’s life as well as the autobiographical elements which permeate Old Mortality. However, the central focus of this paper lies on the representation of the short story and its main issues like family and home in addition to the portrayal of memory. Furthermore, it provides facts about the socio-cultural and historical background as well as information on narrative technique and cultural signifiers.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Biography of Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980) – her life and work
2.1 Katherine Anne Porter and Texas
2.2 Autobiographical elements in Old Mortality
3. Plot and Analysis of Old Mortality
4. Themes
4.1 The Souhtern Belle
4.2 Greensickness in Old Mortality
4.3 Memory
5. Socio-Historical Background
5.1 The Old South
5.2 The New South
6. Narrative technique
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines Katherine Anne Porter’s short story Old Mortality, focusing on the protagonist Miranda’s struggle for self-definition against the backdrop of family myths, restrictive gender ideals, and the weight of Southern history.
- The influence of family conventions and the construction of the "Southern Belle" ideal.
- Autobiographical parallels between Porter’s life and the character of Miranda.
- The role of memory and postmemory in shaping personal identity.
- The socio-historical transition from the Old South to the New South.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Plot and Analysis of Old Mortality
Also, the conception of beauty as well as purity, which was represented by Amy, is of uttermost importance for the family. Especially the girl’s father and Amy’s brother, Harry, holds Amy up as a model of standard female perfection and “makes his love contingent on their approximating these standards” (Stout 193). Not only Miranda lives in fear that she “cannot be another Amy”, also the life of her cousin Eva is blighted by the idealized model of the archetypal belle (Stout 193). Eva, who is described as “shy and chinless, straining her upper lip over two enormous teeth,” and who pushes votes for women fails to satisfy the “norm” in many ways; firstly, by not being as beautiful as Amy, which ultimately leaves her as a failure in the competition for husbands and secondly by being a suffragette and therefore willing to change the old order (reader 46).
The story goes on and portrays several other members of the family and the rebellious character of Amy. Among these is Uncle Gabriel Breaux, a poet who owns racehorses and longed for Amy’s love which was never rewarded, is depicted as romantic but broken-hearted since Amy’s death.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the analysis of Miranda’s character development and the socio-cultural background of the story.
2. Biography of Katherine Anne Porter (1890-1980) – her life and work: Discusses the author's complex relationship with her Texan roots and identifies autobiographical connections within the narrative.
3. Plot and Analysis of Old Mortality: Provides a detailed breakdown of the story's three parts and the internal conflicts of the characters regarding family expectations.
4. Themes: Explores key thematic elements including the "Southern Belle" trope, the historical medical condition of "greensickness," and the pervasive nature of family memory.
5. Socio-Historical Background: Contextualizes the literature within the historical shift from the agrarian Old South to the industrializing New South.
6. Narrative technique: Analyzes the use of the third-person omniscient narrator and its impact on the reader's engagement with the characters.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that the story depicts Miranda’s path toward establishing an independent identity away from family mythology.
Keywords
Katherine Anne Porter, Old Mortality, Miranda, Southern Belle, family myth, autobiography, postmemory, Southern literature, identity, gender roles, greensickness, socio-historical background, narrative technique, industrialization, autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper examines Katherine Anne Porter’s short story Old Mortality, specifically analyzing the protagonist Miranda’s struggle for independence and self-definition within a rigid, tradition-bound Southern family structure.
What are the central themes discussed in the analysis?
The core themes include the idealized image of the "Southern Belle," the impact of family memory and "postmemory" on identity, the socio-historical transition of the American South, and the pressures of gender conventions.
What is the main research question of this study?
The work seeks to understand how Miranda navigates and eventually attempts to break free from the "family myth" and the destructive, idealized construction of womanhood imposed upon her.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, drawing upon biographical data, sociological and historical context, and critical literary theory to interpret the character dynamics in Old Mortality.
What is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers a biography of Porter, a structural analysis of the story's plot, an exploration of thematic elements like "greensickness" and memory, and an overview of the socio-historical shifts in the Southern United States.
Which keywords best describe this research?
The research is characterized by terms such as Southern literature, postmemory, gender identity, Katherine Anne Porter, and the cultural transition from the Old to the New South.
How does the author interpret the character of Amy?
Amy is interpreted as the "romantic ideal" and the central family myth. While she represents the standard of beauty, her life and death demonstrate the oppressive nature of these expectations on her female relatives.
What role does the narrative technique play in the story?
The third-person omniscient narrator provides an all-encompassing view that reveals internal character thoughts, bridging the gap between the family's past and Miranda's present reality.
What is the significance of the "greensickness" mentioned in the text?
Greensickness (chlorosis) acts as a symbolic manifestation of the girls' rebellion and anxiety regarding the "fate of womanhood" and the expectations of marriage and motherhood in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Miranda's development?
The paper concludes that while Miranda realizes the necessity of abandoning the distorted memories of her ancestors to live her own life, she remains at the end in a state of uncertainty about her future.
- Quote paper
- Bachelor Katharina Eder (Author), 2007, "Old Mortality" by Katherine Anne Porter - an Analysis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/171955
