Family in literature

Eudora Welty portrays the family as the most redeeming
force in Souttern culture. Her novels Delta Wedding
and Losing Battles describe the family's functions of
socialization and mutual aid. Both novels demonstrate
how loyalty to family and pride in family heritage
strengthen the individual. In The Optimist's Daughter,
family love is able to transform bitterness into
compassion and misunderstanding into knowledge. It is
sufficient to sustain the individual through grief,
loneliness, and regret. Eudora Welty presents the
enduring and cohesive family as the most powerful
influence on individual lives.

This is a study of the dynastic theme which was first introduced into literature during the heroic ages. Early literature dwelt much on family relationships or blood-ties. This theme, although much neglected during other periods of literature, has had a revival in modern poetry, and is used by Anne Sexton. Much of her poetry deals with family relationships, mainly those involving her parents, daughters, and great-aunt. Sexton uses the dynastic theme in her works in order to convey other important themes. She explores her love-hate relationships within her family, guilt, alienation, and the cyclical nature of life through her dynastic theme.