Perspective Reading

Time Magazine wrote a review on O'Connor's short story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find", describing the characteristics of the style that she incorporates into all of her writings:

"Highly unladylike. . . a brutal irony, a slam-bang humor, and a style of writing as balefully direct as a death sentence.

From Time Magazine blurb quotes on the cover of the second American edition of A Good Man Is Hard to Find." (Meyer 400).

Question: How accurate do you think this blurb is in characterizing the three O’Connor stories [A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Good Country People, and Revelation] in this chapter?

Answer:

       Yes, I think that her writing is “unladylike”, as said by Time magazine, in that the words don't seem to be coming from the pen of a lady.The topics and plots she highlights are not ones normally picked by women in that time period. The story that strikes me as the most so is in “Good Country People” when Hulga and the boy are kissing in the loft. I also agree with the directness in her writing. The abrupt way in which events happen, and how she states them so plainly make her writings unique. The one I could not get over was how the entire family, along with the grandmother, were shot by The Misfit in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”. She also incorporates a lot of irony into her style, with multiple instances in each story. This creates a deeper sense of meaning for the reader, such as being aware of the situation when Mrs. Hopewell sees the boy wandering off and calling him a “simple”, innocent soul, when the audience knows of his thievery only moments earlier.

Why Should We Study the Works of Flannery O'Connor?

Flannery O’Connor is an author worthy of study because her stories have unique and thrilling twists that surprise readers, while also challenging them with life lessons concerning faith. Her stories captivated me personally; I began each of her stories quite unsure of where the plot was leading. She described the setting and characters, as well as their attributes, in great detail, giving much background information before diving into the rest of the story. This allowed me to feel like I understood the characters before the action began, such as knowing the cause of Hulga's bitterness and unwillingness to trust people. That made the effect of the Bible-selling boy stealing her leg more emotional for the readers, because we realized how difficult it was for her to open up to him, only to be hurt and betrayed. Secondly, I was impressed by the unexpected turn of events in all of her short stories. Just when it seemed like there is no climax, she surprised me with a startling action by one or more of the characters, such as Mary Grace suddenly throwing the book at Mrs. Turpin and trying to strangle her, or the escaped criminals shooting the entire family in the woods. I had to read these events through twice to grasp what was happening, and I think that's what she intended for readers to do.

The character I found to be the most interesting was Mary Grace. The interaction between her and Mrs. Turpin mystified me, and I couldn't read if she was mentally unstable, or she was just a crabby teenager. I had never thought of a situation like that happening in such an ordinary place, and how it was useful in taming Mrs. Turpin’s ego. That particular story, Revelation, challenged me in my own worldview. I have always grown up in respected Christian home, and the way I live has sometimes caused me to look down on others because of their sin or certain behaviors. It is important for me to release that God’s salvation is relevant for all people, not just “good” Christians. All sins, races, and statuses are equal in His sight, so I am no different than any other person, and this story was a good reminder of that.

  

Flannery O'Connor