There’s a few dynamics going on during this story, however one that is the most prevalent is between the narrator and the rest of her family. The start of this story makes it clear that there’s favoritism between the oldest and youngest child and it only continues throughout the entire story. Stella-Rondo threw blame on the narrator several times, typically for her own comment against a family member. In the end, this happens so much that it drives the narrator to move out of the house and move into where she works at the P.O.. I believe that the narrator believes the story is about her sister, Stella, and her ability to throw things against her. However, the story is more of the narrator making the final decision to step away from that toxicity.
One thing that really stood out to me was the narrator’s ability to remember all the things she bought and the efficiency of collecting all of her items before moving out. To me it felt like she was already prepared to make that kind of decision just based on that level of proficiency alone. That and her witty replies to her family right before she left was very fitting; after all, she knew that they would need to come to the post office if they wanted their mail, and eventually, they would have to, if not for their personal letters and postcards, but for bills and payments.
One thing though was the near instantaneous decision on leaving, even if it was previously planned out. I also don’t feel like she was given much choice. The family had made it clear who they stood behind and even if the narrator tried to keep their head low and stay out of the way, it would eventually become too overwhelming and frustrating to deal with. Especially since it seem like Stella was out to get her older sister.
At the very end of the story the family’s response to the narrator’s departure turned a bit petty. Turning the entire neighborhood seems a bit much for someone moving out of the house. However, lies always spread faster than the truth with less effort and a small neighborhood wouldn’t likely have too much going on in terms of news and gossip. I do applaud the narrator’s ability to ignore the incoming hostility and opinions and merely keep to her own independence, though.
When she was remembering everything she had every bought or helped pay for in the house I feel like it was out of spite. It must have been easier for her to remember what she had paid for as she was grabbing things because it was her goal to take it all. It was an important scene because there was so much stuff she had gotten for the house that it took nine trips to and from the post office to get it all there. Her family seemed to not appreciate all that she had done for them.
I had also thought that move seemed fast but planned. It is almost as if she had written a record of all that she put into, and I almost want to say that it began when she first realized that her sister and the man would split. It is almost as though she predicted it all to come, and had merely been riding her time.