Redemption In Parker's Back

Flannery O’Connor uses a number of literary devices throughout her writings. Digging deeper into the context of the story helps readers develop meaningful connections. Symbolism is a reoccurring device used by O’Connor to make her stories have a deeper meaning. When Tom T. Shiftlet, one of the main characters is introduced, he is described as a figure forming a crooked cross against the sky, representing that Shiftlet is not a godly man, he is a bit ‘crooked’ and is not a spiritual man (Hendin, 1970). Later in the story Shiftlet asks

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin, is a short story that takes place in Harlem. It is told through the perspective of his brother, who is the narrator. The story is focused on Sonny and his music, more specifically, how the music was redemption for Sonny. For Sonny, the music helped establish his identity while also helping him find a place in society. Thus, a kind of reconciliation occurs among various conflicts, which is symbolized by the drink his brother sends to him at the end. Music is crucial to Sonny’s identity and that is because it was a means for him to escape the life of drugs. Based on his brother’s perspective a fair representation of Sonny’s relationship with music, a picture of Sonny’s struggle for redemption becomes clear.

The minister they had once sought for comfort and solace has become a seductive, mysterious stranger with whom nobody can identify. The congregation feels as though Hooper can reach into their souls and see all the inadequacy and sin hidden within. As expressed in the story, "Each member of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of most hardened breast felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or thought." Because of his vow, the minister is forced into a life of solitude, forever lacking satisfaction and comfort.

In this print source, O’Connor explains how her Catholic faith influences her writing in a positive manner. She also explains her views on the importance of the church, as well as its positive and negative actions and consequences. She claims that one must cherish the world while they struggle to endure it. Sally Fitzgerald studied briefly at Stevens

Flannery O’Connor was an American author who often wrote about characters who face violent situations. These situations force the characters into a moment of crisis that awakens or alters their fate. Her short stories reflect her Roman Catholic faith and frequently discuss questions of morality and ethics. O’Connor’s Catholic upbringing influenced most of her short stories, often accumulating criticism because of her harsh portrayal of religion. O’Connor incorporates the experience of a moment of grace in her short stories to contribute to the meaning of her works and to represent her faith.

In her short story, Good Country People, Flannery O’Connor employs all the elements of humor, irony and, paradox intermingled within the system of Christian belief in evil and redemption. This is no more evident than in the character of Joy, the daughter, who had lost a leg in a hunting accident at the age of 12 and who now has a wooden leg in his place. Throughout the story, it becomes increasingly clear that Joy’s physical affliction is closely paralleled by a spiritual one as well. As the narrative unfolds, the great lengths Joy has gone to recreate her inner self, her soul, are revealed in painstaking detail. It appears she has succeeded in fashioning her own soul into a spirit that is as hard and unyielding as the prosthesis that now takes the place of her missing naturally soft and flexible appendage.

To the casual reader, the writing of Flannery O'Connor can seem cold and void of emotion. Her storylines are like a misty fog in the dead of winter, enveloping the reader with a harsh even violent atmosphere. Her short stories regularly end in traumatic, freak deaths or, at the very least, a character's emotional destruction. An analysis of “Greenleaf,” “Everything that Rises Must Converge,” or “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” will leave the reader feeling empty. The imagination of the reader is not engaged on any level. There is an under current of anti-religion which is intensified by cruelty. O’Connor’s writing is filled with symbolism which is camouflaged by her writing style. Although her writing style is not considered by experts as

Flannery O’Connor believed in the power of religion to give new purpose to life. She saw the fall of the old world, felt the force and presence of God, and her allegorical fictions often portray characters who discover themselves transforming to the Catholic mind. Though her literature does not preach, she uses subtle, thematic undertones and it is apparent that as her characters struggle through violence and pain, divine grace is thrown at them. In her story “Revelation,” the protagonist, Mrs. Turpin, acts sanctimoniously, but ironically the virtue that gives her eminence is what brings about her downfall. Mrs. Turpin’s veneer of so called good behavior fails to fill the void that would bring her to heaven. Grace hits her with force and

The short story, “The Charmer,” by Budge Wilson sends the message that failure to hold children accountable for their misdeeds is dangerous as it often leads to dire consequences on their demeanor; this is a vital message to comprehend because parents who do constantly overlook the faults of their children, will often find themselves indulging in feelings of regret in the face of adversity. To begin, Zach’s absurd behaviour during the exposition helps Wilson illustrate her theme about the importance of punishing children for their wrongdoings. For example, Winnifred explains how “Zach stole money out of wallets that were left lying around...started smoking at thirteen…[and smashed up their] ...car one night after a poker party...But afterwards, Zach delivered apologies that would have brought tears to a preacher’s eyes” (Wilson, 4). This clearly proves that Zach is a manipulative son who believes that by using his charm, he is not obligated to abide by any rules. His parents’ excessive usage of forgiveness allows him to gradually magnify the degree of his crimes and impose financial burdens on the family. When a child happens to engage in criminal activity, parents are naturally inclined to be infuriated and impose strict consequences because they do not want their child to suffer in the future. However, since Zach’s parents are irresponsible, Zach is unable to differentiate right from wrong. Unfortunately, Zach’s actions show that he is becoming

It appears he is trying to hide behind all the tattoos so no one will focus on him. They are like battle scars to him and he knows the story of each in exacting detail even though they have no significant meaning to any other person. Parker is very frustrated because of his wife’s inability or unwillingness to see him as he sees himself. He is continually running away from his problems with the final destination being a Tattoo parlor and some more liquor to help wash his problems away. His wife finds the tattoos disgusting and doesn’t even want to see his body in the light because of them. He struggles to understand why she dislikes them and even wonders why she married him. How many times do we want the world to see us through our eyes instead of viewing and accepting actuality? Parker’s struggles in life never lead him to peace. Any relief he receives is for only a brief period. He is always trying to discover another way to please his wife and always makes the wrong decision. The accident on the tractor should have been a wakeup call to him. He came very close to losing his life. He was tried by fire as the tractor overturned and burned, catching the tree on fire also. He lay on the ground with his shoes on fire but again made a bad decision. His decision would carry him farther away from where he should be and increase the division between him and Sarah Ruth.

O’Connor borrowed these characteristics from her life and used them in the complex characters she would later create. Her Catholic faith is another point that drove O’Connor’s writing, especially given that she grew up in a Protestant-majority region. “Flannery O'Connor put much conscious thought into her dual role of Catholic and fiction writer” (Galloway). Her devout faith plays a huge role in her writing, as most of her characters grapple with salvation and grace. O’Connor’s influences in life were so powerful, they became the same topics that impacted her philosophy in writing.

In Flannery O’Connor’s stories, many of her stories reflect on a common theme relating to Christianity and how the characters are reflected as supposed heroes even though some came off as evil and twisting plots. In many of her short stories, she reflects what she was brought up with which is the conflict with beliefs in the North and South, Old versus New views, Christianity, and Atheism. Stories such as “Good Country People” which reflected and played a huge part on religion, society and how she portrayed it.

Michael Parker, the central character in Merle Temple's four novels, finds that life is not the neat and tidy place he thought it was when he leaves the Lee County Sheriff's Department and Ole Miss in "Deputy" to enter the first drug wars in "A Ghostly Shade of Pale." Targeted for assassination and ambush in the first book, he leaves drug enforcement for the corporate world and high-level politics, only to find in the sequel, "A Rented World," that the political criminals he encounters are far more dangerous than the organized crime figures who had tried to kill him. The full power of government is turned against him, and in the final book of series, "The Redeemed," he is broken but finds the answers to all of his questions and a peace he has

O’Connor uses the setting of the story to illustrate the theme of good versus evil. Upon meeting the Misfit he mentioned that he “‘[doesn’t] see no sun [or clouds],’”and the grandmother responds by stating “‘it’s a

The Reactive: close, but not yet redemptive According to Theological understandings, redemption refers to how humans can restore their relationship with God after having fallen from sin. It is deliverance from evil. In literature, however, redemption is a theme which acknowledges the human potential to succeed after failure. In light of this definition, therefore, the writer is not convinced that The Reactive by Masande Ntshange is a redemptive novel.