Flannery OConner and the use of grotesque character in...

The representation of the grotesque is a characteristic of much 20th century writing (Holman 61). Almost all of O Connor s short stories usually end in horrendous, freak fatalities or, at the very least, a character s emotional devastation. People have categorized O Connor s work as Southern Gothic (Walters 30). In Many of her short stories, A Good Man Is Hard To Find for example, Flannery O Connor creates grotesque characters to illustrate the evil in people. Written in 1953, A Good Man Is Hard To Find is one of O Connor s most known pieces of work and has received many awards. Throughout the story, you come across many twists and turns when you least expect it. A Good Man Is Hard To Find is a story which includes religion,†¦show more content†¦O Connor writes in ways that let us know the characters thoughts without really coming out and telling us. O Connor often changes the mood of the story very quickly from amusement to horror and vice - versa. In her stories, grotesque is often used to tie together the seriousness and the comedic situations. Flannery O Connor said of her work, the look of the fiction is going to be wild... it is almost of necessity going to be violent and comic; because of the discrepancies it seeks to combine. (Walters 7). Many had their own opinions of O Connor s work. The literary works of Flannery O Connor often contend that religious belief can only be consummated by direct confrontation with evil and for those uncommitted and unprepared, tragedy seems inevitable. (Cook Online). Many of the early critics never realized that O Connor s worked with revelation, which at the time, others did not (Reagan Online). As Frederick Asals once said, Conflict, often violent conflict, is the very center of Flannery O Connor s fiction(93). Although O Connor s work was awarded greatly, it was also often dismissed because of its Gothic Violence (Reagan Online). I have to agree with Dorothy Walters when she says, ...nothing is more striking than her remarkable capacity to blend the comic and the serious in a single view of reality. (13). O Connor was very successful eachShow MoreRelatedIrony In A Good Man Is Hard To Find1170 Words   |  5 PagesFlannery O’Conner, a Gothic literature writer, has written several short stories throughout her life. Among these stories, two of them being A Good Man is Hard to Find and Good Country People, she has included some of the most fleshed out and grotesque characters I have ever read. O’Conner brings her characters to life throughout her writing in near flawless and subtle detail with ironic humor. For example, O’Conner makes skillful use of ironic names for her characters. The titles and namesRead MoreSouthern Gothic Literature And Deranged Characters Essay1357 Words   |  6 PagesSouthern Gothic Literature and Deranged Characters â€Å"Southern Gothic Literature is a genre that focuses on grotesque themes that involve troubled and deranged main characters, while sometimes including elements found from the supernatural† (study.com P1). The following short stories had authors that played a tremendous role in the southern gothic literature genre, and inspired many authors to follow their style. From necrophilia to serial killers, southern gothic literature is a genre that is to beRead MoreEssay On A Good Man Is Hard To Find851 Words   |  4 Pages Review on a story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† In the story â€Å"A Good Man is Hard to Find† by Flannery 0’Connor, a southern family planning a road trip to Florida portrays the hypocrisy of the society through their actions and dialogues. 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One genre of literature I find especially intriguing is Southern Gothic Literature. It is a subclass of gothic fiction, specifically set in the Southern parts of the United States. Characteristics of Southern Gothic include the â€Å"presence of irrational, horrific, and transgressive thoughts, desires and impulses; grotesque characters; dark humor, and an overall angst-ridden sense of alienation† (Oxford Literature). These dark characteristicsRead MoreFlannery OConnor1591 Words   |  7 PagesOne key component to making a story thought provoking and leave a lasting impression on the reader is efficient use of rhetorical devices. Flannery O’Connor implements symbolism, irony, metaphors, and strong imagery to supplement her plots with a message that isn’t found on the surface but requires the reader to divulge and explore all the possibilities of representation in her text. Whether illustrating a stormy backdrop as a metaphor for turmoil or three bullet shots as a final offering of atonementRead MoreEssay about flannery oconner: queen of irony1743 Words   |  7 Pages Flannery O’Connor: Queen of Irony The literary rebellion, known as realism, established itself in American writing as a direct response to the age of American romanticism’s sentimental and sensationalist prose. As the dominance of New England’s literary culture waned â€Å"a host of new writers appeared, among them Bret Harte, William Dean Howells, and Mark Twain, whose background and training, unlike those of the older generation they displaced, were middle-class and journalistic rather than genteelRead MoreSouthern Gothic Writing Style1488 Words   |  6 PagesGothic literature is a writing style that emphasizes the use of macabre and irony to expose social problems in the south. The Southern Gothic writing style aims to expose the ignorance and moral blindness of the American South (Bjerre). Southern Gothic literature uses the writing style to enhance the message of the author. In other words, the author uses Southern Gothic elements to place emphasis on their critical views of the south. The autho rs use macabre and irony to emotionally influence the readerRead MoreAnalysis of Southern Gothic Literature Essay examples2890 Words   |  12 Pagesbizarre, violent, and grotesque aspects. These tools are used to explore social issues and reveal the cultural character of the American South (Wikipedia). The authors of Southern Gothic writing use damaged characters to enhance their stories, and to show deeper highlights of unpleasant southern characteristics. These characters are usually set apart from their societies due to their mental, physical, and or social disabilities. However not all the aspects of the characters are bad it is moreRead MoreEssay about O’Connor’s Works: An In-Depth Analysis2157 Words   |  9 Pages Generally when a person writes a story, they use past experiences and adventures in their life to help create a plot for their stories. Usually these events create a base for which the author writes upon thus contributing to the author’s exceptional way of thinking. For example, author Terry Teachout says that â€Å"OConnors religious beliefs were central to her art† (Teachout 56). O’Connor’s religion played a crucial role in her writings. Flannery OConnor is regarded one of the major brief tale