preview

Analysis Of Everything That Rises Must Converge By Flannery OConnor

Good Essays

In the short story, “Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor, Julian and his mother have an unhealthy and dysfunctional relationship. Julian continuously looks for flaws in his mother and she frustrates him with her racism. Julian doesn’t treat his mother with respect and doesn’t appreciate her role as a single-parent. Julian subconsciously blames his mother for his lack of accomplishment in life because he refuses to hold himself accountable. This work examines the inner-struggles of both Julian and his mother. Over time, their self-identifications have become warped and they feel lost in their place in society. Julian finishes college, but has yet to find a job. Meanwhile, his mother refuses to accept that times are changing and segregation is no longer in place. Julian heightens his mother’s insecurities through insults and constant reminders of her lack of integration into the new world. Throughout the story, their relationship continues to progressively worsen until his mother has a stroke as a direct result of their arguing. Julian points out one of his mother’s major flaws and uses it against her. She has difficulty adapting to change and Julian believes that she “haven’t the foggiest idea where [she] stand[s] now or who [she is]” (O’Connor 2) and that “knowing who [she is] is good for one generation only” (2). He constantly reminds his mother of segregation being outlawed. Her racist ideals only escalate his hatred towards her. Julian’s mother

Get Access