Transcript A Sudden Trip Home in the Spring by Alice Walker

A Sudden Trip Home in the
Spring
by Alice Walker
Laura, Jenna, Jenni, Zandra
Biographical Information
Alice Walker was born February 9, 1944 into a family of
sharecroppers in Eatonton, Georgia. Alice had a very
strained relationship with her father growing up, he
believed that education would put a barrier between
him and his children. When Alice left home to attend
Spelman College in Atlanta, her relationship with her
father ended completely. Alice transferred from
Spelman to Sarah Lawrence college. After graduating
she became very involved in civil rights movements
and also taught at several colleges including Wesley
College, University of Massachusetts at Amherst,
University of California at Berkeley and Brandeis
University. She is most well known for her book, The
Color Purple, and is famous for being a significant
advocate for women’s rights.
Historical Context
Although there is no date specified in “A Sudden Trip
Home in the Spring” the story is most likely set
sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. We know
this because the author makes it clear in the story
that airplane and train travel are quite common and
easily accessible modes of transportation. There is
also a reference to Richard Wright who was a
prominent writer in the 50s. The author really tries to
convey the point that at this time period, although
everyone is legally equal, there are still racial
stereotypes and African Americans from the south
are still very misunderstood by white people in the
north.
Setting
The setting of the story starts off with the main character, Sarah, at her
college in New York and takes her back to her home in rural Georgia.
Literary Criticism
“These early stories, too, seem to draw a lot from Ms. Walker's own life.
No expert on her biography but what is known commonly about her
life shows up in these stories, for example that the young woman
attends an all-girl, prestigious private college. The images and attitude
about the black church seems to be culled from Ms. Walker's
upbringing, too. I'm undecided if knowing a little of her background
unduly distracts me from the details of the story. In other words, do I
pay too much attention to the connection between fiction and fact.”
Theme
A Sudden Trip Home in the Spring focuses on the conflict that Sarah
has regarding her father, not only that but regarding the confidence
she has in herself as well. The story implies that in coming to terms
with her own personal struggles, Sarah will be able to deal with living
in a place where she is very misunderstood by her peers.
Conflict
Sarah finds it impossible to draw or paint black men because she only
has one negative view of them based on what she saw in her father“There was a full wall of her own drawings, all of black women. She
found black men impossible to draw or paint; she couldn’t bare to
trace defeat onto blank pages”. Throughout the story however the
conflict resolves when Sarah begins to get a better understanding of
the other men in her family, her grandfather and brother. She returns
from her trip with a new outlook on black men and is able to express
herself more creatively and freely.
Summary
In this story the main character, Sarah, struggles
with leaving her newfound home at a northern
college, to go to her father’s funeral in Georgia
where she grew up. Sarah’s perspective of black
men, which was heavily influenced by her father
growing up, changes when she returns home and
interacts with her grandfather and brother. Once
she has freed herself from that single image she
had of black men she feels she can finally portray
her grandfather in a work of art made of stone.
The scenarios in this story are very reminiscent
of Alice Walker’s personal experiences and also
shows a lot about the complex relationships
between white northerners and African
Americans from the south.
Work Cited
•
•
http://www.enotes.com/topics/alice-walker
•
http://www.enotes.com/topics/sudden-trip-home-spring/in-depth
http://www.shelfari.com/groups/10111/discussions/45451/Next-Up-ASudden-Trip-Home-in-the-Spring