Since her time, readers have been fascinated with Flannery O’Connor as a person and author. Perhaps the reason they find her so engaging is her use of Southern Gothic. It becomes immediately apparent to the reader that her tales tend to rely on a variety of dark, recurring patterns. O’Connor explores religion and morality, highlighting often how the two correspond and collide, and also introduces grotesque characters that simultaneously elicit empathy and disgust. Representing these vastly different worlds are O'Connor's two major groups of protagonists: the traditional elderly, and their young urban children ( Tony Magistrale 111). The characters have dysfunctional families that portray vast age gaps and generational divides. This family dynamic sets the stage for a clash of Old V.s New south as the elderly glorify the past and their children pose a threat to their traditional institutions with their modern beliefs. First, I will create a foundation to define and compare Old South vs. New South within the context of O’Connor’s stories. Then, I will discuss the flawed families in two of O’Connor’s short stories Good Country People and Everything That Rises Must Converge. Lastly, I will evaluate the effect of both generations when facing adversity and apply some of O’Connor’s themes to modern day contexts.
Two factors have historically divided the South from the rest of the country are racial beliefs and attitudes. Born
…show more content…
Her admiration of the old south and desire to turn back time leads her to the, "Old plantation that she had visited in this neighborhood once when she was a young lady". Before she realizes that the plantation is actually in Tennessee, she remembers, "the times when there were no paved roads and thirty miles was a day's journey," imagining the beautiful scene she believes they will soon