Sister
Sister, the story's narrator and main character, is a young woman residing with her family and working as a postmistress in a small Southern town. She is nicknamed for her relationship to her younger sister, Stella-Rondo, and often measures herself against her. She believes that Stella-Rondo has always been pampered and even accuses her of stealing the spotlight by sharing the same birthday, suggesting that Stella-Rondo's mere presence diminishes her own significance.
The rivalry and bitterness, which started in their childhood, intensified when, according to Sister, Stella-Rondo won over Mr. Whitaker, a traveling photographer whom Sister had been dating, and married him. As the story begins, Stella-Rondo has separated from Mr. Whitaker and returned home with a two-year-old daughter she claims is adopted. Sister is convinced the child is actually Stella-Rondo’s, implying that she conceived out of wedlock—a reality the rest of the family refuses to acknowledge.
The family's denial of this fact, coupled with Stella-Rondo's additional deceptions that turn the family against Sister, prompts her to leave home and move into the post office. While Sister might be right about Stella-Rondo's situation, her exaggerated sense of self-pity and victimhood make her less believable.
Characters
Once more, Welty skillfully employs character archetypes typical of the rural South. Yet, these characters are far from monotonous. In fact, Welty accentuates Sister's wounded simplicity by making at least three members of the "opposition" vividly colorful. Aligning with the spoiled and outspoken Stella-Rondo are Mama; Papa-Daddy, who has never shaved his beard; and Uncle Rondo, who appears "in one of Stella-Rondo's flesh-colored kimonos, all cut on the bias" after celebrating the holiday by drinking "that prescription."
Stella-Rondo's enigmatic child, Shirley T. (whom she insists is adopted, though it is evidently not the case), stands out by singing "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" and by vomiting.
Other Characters
Mama
Sister and Stella-Rondo’s mother, Mama, is often called upon to mediate disputes between her two daughters. However, Sister observes that Mama consistently sides with Stella-Rondo. For instance, Mama doesn't question Stella-Rondo's claim that Shirley T. is adopted. This frustrates Sister, who views it as evidence of Mama's favoritism and her tendency to ignore uncomfortable truths.
Papa-Daddy
Papa-Daddy, the maternal grandfather of Sister and Stella-Rondo, is the head of the family. In their rural community, he is considered wealthy. He used his influence, which he proudly calls ‘‘my influence with the government,’’ to secure Sister a job as the local postmistress. Stella-Rondo is able to turn Papa-Daddy against Sister by convincing him that Sister thinks he should shave his long beard, which he finds deeply insulting.
Shirley T.
Shirley T., the two-year-old daughter of Stella-Rondo, is a major point of conflict between Stella-Rondo and Sister. Named after child star Shirley Temple, Shirley T. is too old to have been born during Stella-Rondo’s marriage to Mr. Whitaker. While Stella-Rondo insists that Shirley T. is adopted, the rest of the family accepts this explanation. However, Sister believes the child resembles both Papa-Daddy and Mr. Whitaker, suggesting that Shirley T. is Stella-Rondo’s biological daughter, which implies she was conceived out of wedlock. This is particularly significant to Sister, who was dating Mr. Whitaker before Stella-Rondo "unfairly" won him.
Stella-Rondo
Stella-Rondo is Sister’s younger sister and the focus of her jealousy. She returns unexpectedly to the family home with her two-year-old daughter after her marriage fails. Without explaining the reasons for her marital issues, Stella-Rondo claims that Shirley T. is adopted. While the rest of the family accepts this, Sister feels entitled to an explanation and takes Stella-Rondo’s deceit personally. Aware of Sister’s jealousy over winning Mr. Whitaker and leaving China Grove,...
(This entire section contains 568 words.)
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Stella-Rondo manipulates this resentment to alienate the family from Sister. She tells lies that distance Sister from the family and usurps her place in the household. According to Sister, Stella-Rondo ‘‘always had anything in the world she’s wanted and then she’d throw it away.’’ By the story’s end, Sister speculates that it was Mr. Whitaker who ended the marriage.
Uncle Rondo
Uncle Rondo is Mama’s only brother and the sisters’ uncle. He works as a pharmacist in China Grove and spends much of the story intoxicated, as Sister subtly refers to his drinking as a ‘‘bottle of that prescription.’’ Initially, he stands by Sister, recalling past loyalty. However, when Stella-Rondo falsely claims that Sister said he looked bad in her kimono, he becomes furious with Sister, despite Stella-Rondo being the one who actually made the remark. In retaliation, he sets off firecrackers in Sister’s room, which ultimately leads to her decision to leave home.
Joe Whitaker
See Mr. Whitaker.
Mr. Whitaker
Mr. Whitaker is a traveling photographer and, according to Sister, ‘‘the only man ever dropped down in China Grove.’’ Although he never appears in the story, he serves as the main source of conflict between the two sisters. Sister initially dated Mr. Whitaker, but Stella-Rondo ended their relationship by marrying him. Sister believes Stella-Rondo unfairly won him over by lying that Sister was bigger on one side than the other. This explanation seems insufficient, and the presence of Shirley T. hints that his choice might have been influenced by Stella-Rondo having premarital sex with him and becoming pregnant.