Although professedly deeply religious, Flannery O’Connor’s stories hold a rich tapestry of themes and motifs that can be interpreted through the lens of other philosophies. Likewise, Faulkner’s spiritually-replete narratives also possess components of variable natures, depending on the medium of scrutiny. Take two of any of the assorted Southern Gothic literature selections we have studied and examine two (one from each story selected) incidents or characterizations conventionally labeled as Christian, using instead one of the following schools of thought:
Nihilism:http://www.iep.utm.edu/
Relativism: http://www.iep.utm.edu/
Reducto ad Absurdum: http://www.iep.utm.edu/
Functionalism: http://www.iep.utm.edu/
Sarte’s Existentialism: http://www.iep.utm.edu/sartre-
Be sure to use textual evidence and feel free to use other sources (art, music, other literature - but not required!)
Enjoy some of the Modern Voices of the South: Country Music, while you post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NJqUN9TClM&ob=av2e Can you see the Gothic connections?
Southern Gothic literature used by O’Connor and Faulkner allows for strange and unusual incidents and characters that may be see and even examined through the light of other philosophies. Looking at “Good Country People” and “Barn Burning” by O’Connor and Faulkner respectively, both have events and characters within them that reflect a more nihilistic train of thought. The character of Hulga, in “Good Country
ReplyDeletePeople,” can be seen in a nihilistic light because she does not have any values based off of a religion or anything else. She also fails to communicate with what little society she has around her. Preferring to be a recluse, she avoids communication with Mrs. Freeman and even her own mother. She may have a PhD in philosophy, but Hulga can clearly be seen as a nihilist for her personalities and ways. The father in “Barn Burning” can also be seen as a nihilist. He relates to nothing, really has no morals or values, and he fails to communicate with others. The father really has no loyalties. He is constantly kicked out of towns for disruptive behavior, barn burning. This impulse to destroy others barns and possessions can be directly linked to the nihilism theory. The father is uneducated and Hulga is extremely educated, but both can be classified as nihilist and Southern Gothic characters despite their differences.
In a majority of O’ Conner’s works, she portrays religion in the actions of her characters and the events surrounding them; however, some scholars view these incidents as examples of Nihilism and Existentialism.
ReplyDeleteTo expand on Lauren’s post, Hulga in Good Country People illustrates nihilistic qualities. She believes in nothing, has no loyalties, and is very pessimistic towards life. She even changes her name from Joy to Hulga to show her self-defeating attitude towards her physical characteristics. Hulga’s education is the only accomplishment she has achieved; however, in her mother’s eyes, she is not praised because Hulga chose to obtain a Ph.D. in philosophy, which is deemed useless in the small town she lives in. Hulga’s lack of courtesy shames Mrs. Hopewell, which adds towards her daughter’s nihilistic outlook on life. She is not a religious character in the novel and even admits to being an atheist. Having no desire to associate with her mother and Mrs. Freeman, she isolates herself from the gossip her mother constantly discloses. After meeting the Bible salesman, Hulga’s religious temperament is revealed when she states, “We are all damned but some of us have taken off our blindfolds and see that there’s nothing to see. It’s kind of salvation” (467). Thus remark is the complete opposite of O’ Conner’s personal belief in religion yet she continues to portray the Nihilism within Hulga. Usually salvation refers to a spiritual awakening, but the author refers to an atheist viewpoint. In addition, the Bible salesman degrades Hulga’s character by saying, “And I’ll tell you another thing, Hulga, using the name as if he didn’t think much of it, you ain’t so smart. I been believing in nothing ever since I was born” (469). O’ Conner ends the story with this nihilistic event to portray the lack of faith and that religion is important in order to achieve happiness in life.
The belief in Sartre’s Existentialism plays a significant role in O’ Conner’s short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find. The grandmother is a corrupt character at the beginning of the story, whom always wants criticize or complain about something. Her position in society means everything to her, and she strives only to benefit herself. Through her characteristics, some philosophers state she represents Sartre’s Existentialism, which is the belief in the object of consciousness. This is portrayed through bad faith and a lack of self-identity in A Good Man is Hard to Find. After the grandmother and her family have the encounter with The Misfit, the old woman begins to expose her fake personality. She tries to comfort the serial killer by claiming he is a good man, when in reality before this moment she would never compliment anyone. Also, while being held by The Misfit, she asks him to look for Jesus and to pray, which contradicts the grandmother’s belief in religion because she never praised God before and now that her life is about to be taken from her, she chooses to suddenly become religious. During her entire encounter with The Misfit, she cheats her true character and pretends to be someone she is not, especially when she states, “Why you’re one of my babies. You’re one of my own children” (455).
She never had a strong relationship with her son, and The Misfit killed her in a world in which she did not belong. He even declares, “She would of been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life” (455). If the grandmother experienced deathly situations all her life, the true goodness of her character would have shined through her conceited characteristics to become a morally strong individual; however, in agreement with Sartre’s Existentialism, the old woman’s display of bad faith and lack of self-identity ultimately led towards her death.
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ReplyDeleteHawthorne and O’Connor are both profound Southern Gothic writers who embed perplexing plots, grotesque characters, and a plethora of symbols. Many of their writings can be interpreted through other philosophies such as Hawthorne’s short story “Barn Burning”. Functionalism is a philosophy that looks at a person’s mental state as what they do, or in other’s words, the purpose behind what they do. In Hawthorne’s story, the father has a known record of burning barns. According to Functionalism, one must look at the purpose or function of burning the barns. Hawthorne writes, “…his father, still in the hat and coat…emptying the reservoir of the lamp back into the five-gallon kerosene can from which it had been filled, while the mother tugged at his arm until he shifted the lamp to the other hand and flung her back…”(508). The father attempts to burn the De Spain’s barn because he was angry that he was sentenced a larger fine for ruining their rug which he had attempted to clean after getting manure on it. While the barn burning could be viewed with respect to Christianity, it also falls under Functionalism. Looking at the reasoning behind the father’s mental state helps explain his reckless decision to burn barns which seems to release his anger, and serve as revenge or pay back to those whose belongings he burns.
ReplyDeleteO’Connor clearly intertwines Nihilism within “Good Country People”. Hulga most obviously is a clear outline of Nihilism for she lives in constant pessimism due to her prosthetic leg which she believes makes her ugly and thus only a repulsive sounding name such as Hulga is fit for such as ugly condition. She is also an atheist, and has no values which she bases her life on, which is the core belief of Nihilism. Not only is Hulga an outline of this philosophy, but the entire storyline in the loft of the barn serves as a perfect example of what Nihilism is. In the loft, the Bible salesman, who is supposed to be someone of high morals with a close connection to God contradicts all these assumptions and shows how baseless his values are toward the Christian faith by pulling out of a hollow Bible, “…a pocket flask of whiskey, a pack of [pornographic] cards, and a small blue box with printing on it” (468). This incident is O’Connor’s clear work of incorporating Christianity within her short stories by showing one needs strong faith and morals to survive in today’s crazy world, but it can also be viewed as Nihilistic. Nihilism includes a tendency to destroy, which is exactly what happens to Hulga. Trapped within the upper loft on a barn, the Bible salesman steals Hulga’s prosthetic leg, consequently destroying Hulga’s freedom. Not only does the disturbing incident destroy her ability to move, but it also destroys her view that intellect with conjunction to a Ph.D. made her superior. Both O’Connor and Hawthorne’s writings involve situations that are labeled Christian, but can also be interpreted through other philosophies.
In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, after the grandmother realizes that her death is coming near, she begins to act as if she were a devote Christian. Attempting to convince the Misfit that “Jesus will help you” (454), she explains to him he can be saved from all of the evil acts he has participated in throughout his life. However, if the story were written with the belief of nihilism, the grandmother would have explained, “Life is baseless; there is no meaning to live and nothing will save you or me”. Upon killing the grandmother, the Misfit is shown as a killer yet he is also her savior because he released her from this life that was full of distortion and hypocrisy. If the story were written in a Nihilistic form, the act of the Misfit would be without purpose because life is baseless. There is no meaning to the actions of the Misfit. No one will know about the death therefore it is allowed to do. Misfit did not perform a crime by killing the grandmother because her existence was without purpose. He can continue to kill people without feeling any guilt because there were no moral ethics that needed to be followed. This destruction he was creating was actually good because destruction created more independence for him. The acts conducted by the Misfit are not evil at all because there is no one he has to answer to for all of the actions he has participated in. He has no one to be scared of for the crimes he has done because he has not done anything wrong. By killing the grandmother, he performed a good act because now this gives him a little more independence in this meaningless life.
ReplyDeleteIn “Revelation”, Mrs. Turpin views herself “above” everyone else yet she maintains her “kindness” to everyone no matter what their social standing may be in society. For example, while sitting in the waiting room, Mrs. Turpin judges Mary Grace’s face as being “blue with acne” (471) and she describes how one of the ladies looked, “vacant and white-trashy” (471). Mrs. Turpin is shown to be very critical of the others looks yet she holds the distortion about herself that she is too kind to everyone. When Mary Grace “graces” Mrs. Turpin, Mary Grace says, “ Go back to hell where you came from, you old wart hog” (478). Upon pondering what had happened that day, Mrs. Turpin says, “ I am not….a wart hog. From hell…the denial had no force” (479). Mrs. Turpin realizes how critical she has been of others throughout of her life. In just one situation of the waiting room, she judged most of the people. Mrs. Turpin’s distortion of being kind too everyone was also shattered as she realized how she behaved during her moment of grace. Had the same situation been depicted in the Nihilistic concept, even after her moment of grace Mrs. Turpin would have thought the moment of grace was baseless. It would not have mattered to her how she treated other people because she would not have followed any morals. Mrs. Turpin would have no idea of what was right or wrong because essentially her existence on the earth was baseless because she has no purpose. She can continue to judge as many people as she liked because she has no one that will question her on her behavior and on the way she acted. No one's existence has any meaning in the world; therefore, it is not seen as a crime to judge people based on their physical attire.
Weaved into O’Connor’s rich tapestry of motifs are the garishly psychedelic threads which form the fabric of not only the metaphorical cloth, but also the fabric of humankind. Her Southern Gothic style embodies the psychoanalytic themes applicable to quotidian life, embracing modernist philosophies such as moral relativism. In a society largely bound by Roman Catholicism and its surmised, universal values, she bursts the bands of literary captivity, satirically questioning basic values such as class importance, omnipresent race prejudice, and Christian values such as repentance, forgiveness, and judgment. As Kristen Kurpe would say she, “...plays the devil’s advocate,” a ploy that draws the reader into a deeper form of analysis and thinking by questioning the most foundational principles of the time, as established by society.
ReplyDeleteIn “Good Country People” O’Connor evokes moral relativism, or the theory that morals or not absolute, to depict the major antagonist of the short story as an initially righteous Bible salesman, but allows the audience to conclude his lifestyle is not entirely chauvinistic after we learn his inventory case carries more than the word of God, but also liquor and pornographic playing cards. He ultimately robs Hulga, the antagonist, of her prosthetic limb, leaving her physically helpless. While the audience is horrified by this extreme and grotesque occurrence and begins to judge the Manly Pointer for his possessions and actions, O’Connor is as aware of her creation’s faults in their entirety from the beginning. He is the same religious person during the denouement as the commencement. Embodying the savior of the narrative who provides Hulga with her moment of grace, he still is judged “unworthy” by society, while simultaneously adopting the role of a being who is biblically perfect. O’Connor juggles the meaning of this perfection by creating a character who is relatively quintessential in transforming Hulga. He strips her of first her physical pride and secondly of her intellectual pride by stating, “‘you ain’t so smart. I been believing in nothing ever since I was born!’” (469). To believe nothing is to believe all things equally, which concurs with the theory of moral relativism.
In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” O’Connor continues the moral relativity again with an “evil” antagonist. The story develops several spheres of individual moral relativism, primarily through the grandmother and The Misfit. The grandmother is the hypocritical preacher caught up in fatuous social standing and religious importance, several characterizations that are based on her own perception of truth relative to her manipulation of what is fitting to her. O’Connor makes the point that one whose life is based on social status and preached religious ideals may seem hypocritical to all but themselves. This difference in perspective is vital to relativism because to be the impartial outsider is to accept the grandmother’s belief that she is a lady and Christian immune saved from violence even though her son does not see her as the Christ-like disciple, and her transformed son or killer does not acknowledge her stature or religious demeanor ground for her survival. The extension of this acceptance is to also acknowledge the feelings of the son and The Misfit towards the grandmother as equal in validity. By placing ourselves in each character’s glass shoes, we are fitted into separate mindsets that convince us that they are each valid points, and thus all are correct. The Misfit states, “‘I found out the crime don’t matter. You can do one thing or you can do another, kill a man or take a tire off his car, because sooner or later you’re going to forget what it was you done and just be punished for it’” (453). This rationalization of his wrong doings is a form of moral relativism because it challenges the absolutism of moral and societal laws and justifies the perpetuation of sin. Consequence is inevitable, therefore actions that invoke those consequences are also inevitable in his point of view. In his moral context murder will eventually be forgotten and internally forgiven, thus there is no need for a single forgiving Christ figure when he fulfills the position of recompense internally and without external aid, just as he satisfies the need for a savior for the grandmother by killing her and relieving her of the foundation-less societal and generational theories of religion and stature that restricted her growth. Again O’Connor argues the side of the grandmother as the victim of circumstance and failed heroine of the story to save a villain, and the side of The Misfit as the hero who rescued the grandmother from a fate of hypocrisy. In the literary creator’s eyes, perhaps both theories are viable. After all, according to modern relativism, nothing is right or wrong, for all things are wrong and right.
ReplyDeleteFunctionalism describes mental states as not being defined by what they do, but instead the role they play and where they come from. This idea is prevalent in Faulkner’s “Barn Burning.” Throughout the short story, a continuous theme is choices. Character’s viewpoints and the choices they make as a result reflect upon functionalism, as they represent the varying values and thought processes of characters and how that reveals their character. Sarty’s beliefs about justice and honesty heavily contrast with his father’s ideals. His father consistently forces Sarty to conceal his actions and participate in his deeds. However, Sarty’s beliefs relay that lying about what his father has done makes him also guilty of a wrongdoing. Yet, at the same moment, loyalty is a core component in the situation, as Sarty doesn’t want to let his mother down or betray his father. Faulkner writes, “The voice harsh like tin...’You were fixing to tell them. You would have told them.’...His father struck him” (420). At only 10 years old, Sarty is met with the a difficult choice between honesty and loyalty. These two schools of thought provide foiling contrast and play varying roles. The moral message this evokes is characteristically fundamentalist.
ReplyDeleteFunctionalism is also seen in O’ Connor’s “Revelation.” Mrs. Turpin believes she is a virtuous citizen committed to God. However, in actuality she pities and criticizes everyone around her believing that her life is in a state of perfection. She thought to herself, “On the bottom of the heap were most colored people, not the kind she would have been if she had been one, but most of them; then next to them -- not above, just away from -- were the white-trash; then above them were the home-owners, and above them the home-and-land owners, to which she and Claud belonged. Above she and Claud were people with a lot of money and much bigger houses and much more land” (394). Extremely critical of others and thinking that her character is sound are the functionalist roles Mrs. Turpin’s mindset play, as well as her biggest faults. Traditionally Mrs. Turpin’s revelation is viewed with the idea that humans are innately evil and hateful and they must look to God for love and humility. While this is true, one can only adapt her revelation to a different mental state and therefore a different outlook on life.
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ReplyDeleteO’Connor’s style of writing not only embodies Southern Gothic Literature but it also can be seen through the philosophy of relativism. In the short story “Revelation” O’Connor explores the character of Mrs. Turpin who in time conveys spiritual relativism. Mrs. Turpin believes in God but does not live a Christian life. She reveals through her thoughts and conversations that she is overly judgmental towards people, which is a sin in the Christian faith. The Christian outlook on life is to view everything and everyone in the utmost positive way and never dwell on the bad. Her focus is limited to only what can be seen on the outside. The doctor’s office is filled with a motley of people but the reader is only introduced to those that stood out to Mrs. Turpin. A couple of those people who were looked down upon by Mrs. Turpin were the white trash and ugly young girl. Mrs. Turpin believed that God was speaking to her through the ugly girl who, after attacking her, the girl said, “Go back to hell where you came from, you old wart hog”(478). The spiritual relativism is seen within the story with Mrs. Turpin’s belief that God spoke to her through the ugly girl. The belief that God speaks through people is viewed as a true statement by later actions of Mrs. Turpin. She cries out to God questioning why He refers to her as a pig. She also demands to know why she was the one that He spoke to instead of the trashy girl or anyone else in the doctor’s office. Critics not only see relativism within “Revelation” but also in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”. Readers see the spiritual relativism amongst both the grandmother and The Misfit. When the grandmother is defenseless up against the gun of The Misfit, she reveals what she believes will save the soul of her killer, which would be asking for forgiveness from God and achieving salvation. These Christian views are not seen to be incorrect which then allows this to be a spiritual relativism. The grandmother knew that by trying to save The Misfit’s soul from Hell and converting him to Christianity would ultimately save her own life. The Misfit is aware that he has sinned throughout his life. He absorbs the sermon that the grandmother preaches to him but still chooses to sin by killing her. His belief in God and rebellious nature towards Christianity also allows the spiritual relativism to flourish because The Misfit outwardly refuses to not follow what he knows is the truth of God. Throughout both “Revelation” and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, the combination of grotesque characters and religious messages leads up to the philosophy of spiritual relativism.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner are labeled as Souther Gothic literature writers, their stories also can be looked at under numerous philosophical lights. One of these views is that of nihilism. Nihilism is the "belief that all values are baseless and that nothing can be known or communicated. Two characters that embody this belief are Hulga in "Good Country People" and Abner Snopes in "Barn Burning."
ReplyDeleteWithin the character of Hulga, Flanner O'Connor creates a person that is constantly pessimistic throughout her life. Her beliefs are based off of nothing religious and she continuously chooses to reflect on the negatives of life rather than the positives. Her main problem that labels her a nihilist is her lack of believing in her ability to do anything. She acknowledges that she has a PhD in philosophy, however she is not able to truly use it as she lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere. It is from this view of despair and that nothing matters that Hulga is looked upon as a nihilist.
Another character that can be labeled a nihilist is Abner Snopes from William Faulkner's "Barn Burning." Snopes is repeatedly banished from towns for burning down people's barns. His son, Colonel Sartoris, becomes worried about his father's well-being and questions his mental state. As the story continues, we begin to learn of Snopes rough childhood and manic depression issues. His stiff walk symbolizes his indifference to society and "crippled" view on life. He believes that nothing is worth living for and fights each day to realize the point of life. Because of his views on life, his lack of acknowledgment to his son, and lack of values, Abner Snopes is labeled a nihilist.
Nihilism is prominent in both "Good Country People" and "Barn Burning" as both authors attempt to depict a world of darkness and despair. However, with characters such as Hulga and Abner, O'Connor and Snopes also create opposite characters, creating a tense tone throughout both short stories.
Great job guys! Excellent insights and suberb use of textual evidence. However the discussion is becoming repitive so Cassie and I would like any further posts to play devil's advocate: defend the Christian viewpoint and refute the prior posts.
ReplyDeleteSouthern Gothic literature explores many facets of a society that is often times misinterpreted. This style of literature exposes the potential for a gloomy and vulgar nature of southern society. Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner are idyllic examples of writers that effectively incorporate this style while providing an accurate replica of southern culture. Christianity is a major role of southern culture. It is often distorted in an effort to expose the corruptions and hypocrisies of the society that utilizes it. In “Revelations” O’Connor’s character, Mrs. Turpin, believes she is a holy woman. Other characters in the story claim that she is one of the nicest and most religious people they have ever met. Ironically, she is a racist and judgmental woman who will eventually have to face her own demons. In “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner, Christian allusions are clearly evident. When the Sarty is faced with the choice between doing the right thing and turning his father in for his crimes or his loyalty to his family, religious undertones are present. The boy was torn between essentially choosing God, or his family. Southern Gothic literature uses Christianity in it’s pure and distorted form to display how it is such an important component in southern culture.
ReplyDeleteChristian beliefs are present in most Southern Gothic literature, while many of the allusions may be distorted and stretched till barely visible, they are still there. It is absolutely present in O'Connor's "Revelation" where Mrs. Turpin who was under the impression that out of the waiting room she occupied she was the classiest, only to be confronted by Mary Grace, previously described as a ugly daughter, who, in an epileptic fit, classifies her as a wart hog from hell. This leads to Mrs. Turpin questioning everything she has known and begging for answers from God while in the hog pen. She is then the audience to a spectacle that sends her to her knees in salvation practically. Christian allusions are commonplace in the short story, but it is not just O'Connor who calls Christianity to her, but Faulkner as well in his short story, "Barn Burning". The main character, Sarty is constantly faced with possibly the hardest choice anyone could ever make, tell the truth or save his family from punishment. This alludes to Christianity because as Christian beliefs inform us, you must not lie, yet Sarty lies for the protection of his family constantly. But what his father is committing is a horrible task, so Sarty eventually turns to God and calls out his father That in turn leads to his father's death, and Sarty's salvation by turning to God for help in his time of need. As it is plain to see, both stories from both authors contain allusions to Christianity.
ReplyDeleteThe Southern Gothic Literature we have read in class can be read through the lens of many different philosophies, this includes the Christian philosophy. In Faulkner's "Barn Burning", Abner Snopes is often seen as a nihilist, he has no loyalties and seems only to destroy. However, Abner can also be seen as the epitome of the Christian idea of seperating oneself from the material world. Abner's refusal to serve others could be interpreted as a refusal to worship false idols, an act expressely forbidden in the Bible, instead Abner serves only God. The destruction Abner inflicts is his way of destroying the false idols and also of trying to draw people away from the secular and closer to God.
ReplyDeleteMany of O’Conner’s characters are intended to be seen through a Christian mindset as O’Conner herself was a devout Catholic. In “Good Country People” Hulga is just a normal girl and the Bible Salesman, Manley Pointer, is the Devil who comes disguised as a good thing and leads Hulga into temptation and in the end steals her metaphorical soul by taking her leg, which she had previously been cited as one of the reasons that Hulga was the way that she was. Through this Chritian view the entire story changes from a nihilistic story or one about the evils of humanity, to a story that cautions against pride and be wary of temptation.
Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner reference religious characteristics to provide Christian lessons and viewpoints that goes along with southern culture. With their grotesque characters, O'Connor and Faulkner give instances in which belief in Christianity would have saved or helped a character’s life. The motive in Christian references is to show the importance of the religion and its impact on one's life, a major component of southern gothic literature.
ReplyDeleteIn O’Connor’s “Good Country People.” Hulga reaps the consequences of abusing religion and Christianity’s meaning. Hugla is childish and a nonbeliever. She does not live by any guidelines, which are looked down upon in southern society. She, as an atheist, only turns to religion and Christ when in need. The Bible salesman almost serves as a test for Hulga. She abuses the principals of religion and the corrupt Bible salesman punishes her; he can be seen as a reflection of her self. The lesson is to show the power of Christianity and its importance in southern culture. Sarty in Faulkner’s “Barn Burning,” faces moral challenges preached and followed in the Christian religion, especially in the south. He struggles with the balancing of family and honesty. Thanks to his southern roots, he turns to religion for guidance, the decision southern society accepts. With the Lord’s guidance, the idea that Christianity can save a character’s life comes into play. While his father, the liar and sinner, has his life taken from him, Sarty’s life is saved because of his faithfulness and loyalty to the Lord. In southern gothic literature, religion plays a role in the outcome of character’s situations.
Flannery O’Conner was a devout Roman Catholic. She expressed many of her religious and moral beliefs through her distorted Southern Gothic writing style. The events that take place in her short stories appear to just be normal events. After taking a closer look and really analyzing her work, it is very apparent that everything has a vital role in presenting her purpose of the work as a whole. Her stories can be further interpreted through the thought of functionalism. Functionalism is when an experience or thing has a multifaceted purpose behind its use rather than just being a simple event taking place.
ReplyDeleteIn “Good Country People,” Hulga is an educated girl. Although she is older, her actions and thoughts would be compared to those of a teenage girl. She does not necessarily believe in anything religiously and believes herself to be unattractive and ugly. Ironically, a bible salesman comes to her house and she falls for him. They climb to the top of the barn loft and Hulga says, “She did not realize that she had taken off her glasses but this landscape could not seem exceptional to her for she seldom paid any close attention to her surroundings” (467). The action of taking off her glasses is something that could easily be looked over because who would interoperate it normally as anything more. Approaching the situation with functionalism in mind, it could be looked at as meaning more. Hulga not having her glasses on means physically her vision is not very clear at the time. In a more abstract view it also means that her actions and motives are not parallel to something she would normally take part in, due to her unclear. In “Revelation,” Mrs. Turpin is a selfish, opinioned woman. She believes that she is a moral woman because she is nice to those that are “less” than her. On a normal doctors visit, “The girl’s fingers sank like clamps into the soft flesh of her neck” (477). This act means a lot more than it appears to. This frightening event ironically was Mrs. Turpin’s moment of grace. The event made her stand back and reconsider her previous ways and question their validity. This traumatic incident was her awakening and saved her moral outcome.
Many ordinary events take place for a reason for more than what they mean literally. This is often to represent a smaller piece, leading up to the whole purpose of the work. O’Conner writes about certain things to express her religious and moral views. Her short stories can also be examined through functionalism. It is then easy to see that everything has a deeper and composite role than what it literally means.
Excellent job everyone! This was a tough question but the responses exceed my expectations. Just on comment: the use of textual evidence is essential and invaluable to any articulation concerning literature; it gives your argument strength as well as builds a factual basis. Those blog posts lacking citations failed to add credibility to their assertions, and thus left the other readers with little insight.
ReplyDelete@Caroline: Excellent evidence and great supporting citations. A superior blog post
ReplyDelete@Tasha: Good analysis! You show an in-depth understanding of Nihilism. However, I believe you made a mistake in the names: Faulkner, not Hawthorne
@Prutha: Good assertions concerning the two matriarchs
@Alexander: Thorough analysis and excellent use of outside sources (i.e. KK)!
@Anna Cait: Great insight into functionalism. I liked the contrast between the older woman and the young boy
@Kelsie H: Wonderful insights, but more textual evidence would have been helpful
@Sydney, Ryan, Kelsey: Good insights but textual evidence would have lent your arguments more credibility
@Taylor: Awesome job! Good blending of quotes