Flannery OConnor and Her Southern Gothic Style - 1187 Words

Flannery O’Connor, known for her original Southern Gothic style of prose has been titled â€Å"the master of the short story† (O’Connor). Her application of symbolism and the themes of Southern religion deem her as one of the most influential writers in American history. Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1925 and raised in the South, O’Connor was socialized as a member of the Catholic Church which proves evident throughout her writings. She studied journalism at the University of Iowa, but quickly migrated back to the South where she wrote most of her works: two novels, 32 short stories, and a number of commentaries and reviews. When diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, the same illness that killed her father when she was young, she†¦show more content†¦Tranquility is another moral of the South within Christianity. Although not associated with Southern religion, tranquility is necessary in the way of maintaining peace by not causing trouble, a Southern mother’s favorite phrase, and especially avoiding disturbances on Sundays, the Sabbath day. Tranquility, for example, exists as the peace in sleepy towns. According to O’Connor, peace can be difficult to find, as avowed by J. John of Challenge Newsline, â€Å"in a hectic world full of stress, tranquility has become one of the most valuable of commodities,† or it can award itself upon people of faith, as in most of her stories (â€Å"Pause for†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). People of Christianity uphold tranquility as a standard for other religious people surrounding themselves. During the scene in â€Å"Good Country People† when the bible salesman approaches Mrs. Hopewell about purchasing bibles, she does not accept the invitation, but agrees with him that â€Å"good country people are the salt of the Earth† (O’Connor 188). One could interpret â€Å"good country people† as people that are â€Å"genuine,† hospitable, kind, and Chris tian. O’Connor grants peace to her morally correct characters, but reserves â€Å"suffering†¦ [to people who] are never transformed by it, principally because they are fixed in their secular or self-centered minds† as stated by Davis Leigh, Professor of Philosophy in Religion, in his journal, Suffering and the Sacred inShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Southern Gothic 1566 Words   |  7 PagesMyszkowski English 1102 17 April 2016 Southern Gothic Literature In the 19th century, the Southern Gothic genre quickly became popular after Edgar Allen Poe poems in the 18th century. Most writings were formed around the Civil War era, which plays an enormous part in the tone and setting in Southern Gothic writing styles. (O’Connell 63) Southern Gothic writing elements consist of â€Å"horror, romance and psychological and domestic dramas† (63). The setting of Southern Gothic was always dingy and dark whichRead MoreMary Shelley and Flannery OConnor: Gothic Isolationists1724 Words   |  7 Pages Gothic fiction is a genre of literature that combines fiction, horror and Romanticism with a particular focus on the mysterious and supernatural aspects. Gothic fiction originated in England during the latter half of the 18th century. This distinctive genre of literature soon developed into a 19th century phenomenon. The success of this dominant genre in England is frequently attributed to Mary Shelley. Despite its success during this time period, gothic fiction ceased to be a dominant genre byRead MoreSouthern Gothic Style in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find1478 Words   |  6 Pageswithin its genre. One American author, Flannery OConnor, is known for her Southern Gothic style of writing. In her short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find OConnor uses the Southern Gothic style, brought on by her background, to establish various ties between the characters and their actions. Flannery OConnor was born in Savannah, Georgia on March 25, 1925. Growing up in the Deep South, her family was of Catholic religion. During her lifetime, OConnor wrote two novels and 32 short storiesRead MoreGothic Literature : The Southern Gothic Fiction1476 Words   |  6 PagesAuthors use morbidly dark and eccentric characters combined with southern charm and the ever-present gender divide to tell stories that represent a writing style known as southern gothic literature. â€Å"Southern Gothic is a subgenre of Gothic fiction unique to American literature that takes place exclusively in the American South. Elements of a Gothic treatment of the South were apparent in the 19th century, ante- and post-bellum, in the grotesques of Henry Clay Lewis and the de-idealized visions ofRead MoreAnalysis Of O Connor s A Good Man1467 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluence their stories. Flannery O’Connor was raised in Georgia during one of the rough time periods in the South. She p uts multiple similarities in several of her stories like racism, using violence to redeem people, as well as the Old South versus the New South. O’Connor applies her writing style of Southern Gothic to show people the reality of what is happening in the South. She has put the issues that they have in different scenarios or situations that people could understand in her short stories, â€Å"ARead MoreFlannery O Connor Is Considered One Of The Most Successful Writer979 Words   |  4 PagesMary Flannery O’Connor is considered one of the most successful short story writers in history. She composed her works during a period of prosperity and economic boom following World War II. Although the economy was thriving, the 1950’s were a period of struggle for women’s rights, as well as other minorities. (Digital History) Based on her success, one could conclude O’Connor exceeded all barriers against women during the fifties. Flannery O’Connor†™s life experiences based on her faith, her novelsRead More Flannery Oconnor1301 Words   |  6 Pageson how the world was dealing with the changes. Flannery O’Connor, a prominent Catholic writer from the South, was one of the many who examined society and shared their philosophies. O’Connor shocked her twentieth century readers with the haunting style and piercing questions in her short stories and novels, which were centered on a combination of her life experiences, her deep Catholic faith, and the literature of the time. Mary Flannery O’Connor was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1925 into one ofRead MoreAnalysis of Southern Gothic Literature Essay examples2890 Words   |  12 PagesAnalysis of Southern Gothic Literature Southern Gothic literature, which is a sub-genre of the Gothic writing style, is unique to the American South. Southern Gothic literature has many of the same aspects as Gothic literature; it focuses on topics such as death, madness, and the super natural as well has having many mystical, bizarre, violent, and grotesque aspects. These tools are used to explore social issues and reveal the cultural character of the American South (Wikipedia). The authorsRead MoreA Good Man Is Hard to Find OConner Essay example1745 Words   |  7 PagesFlannery OConners Analysis: A Good Man is Hard To Find A Displaced Person Through her assortment of unpalatable characters and violent actions, OConnor tries to show grace at work in the world. According to her beliefs Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, has shown that God so loved the world that He became man Himself. Yet this God is not accepted by men, so they have to be shocked into a recognition of their need for Him and the salvation He offers. (MAYER, 1976) In this analysis IRead MoreFlannery O Connor s Writing Style1680 Words   |  7 PagesFlannery O’connor is one of the most shinning stars in American literature. Her distinct writing style makes her work recognizable and outstanding from other literature works. Many critics have commented on Flannery O’connor’s narrative voice. Louise Blackwell discovers Miss O’Connor often wrote according to southern tradition by using symbols in people’s daily life to convey the theme in a more profound way. From the perspective of the O’connor’s writing technique, Shirley Foster speaks highly of