Summary Of Revelation By Flannery O Connor

Flannery O’Connor details a woman living in the South in the short story, “Revelation”. The main character, Mrs. Turpin, holds anyone that is not on in her social level with very little regarding i.e. black or poor people. Once Mrs. Turpin met her match in a doctor’s office waiting room, she herself had a moment of self-reflection. O’Connor told the story of her stereotypical character using notable literary devices to enhance and emphasize the tale. The most notable is her use of ethical, emotional, and logical appeals to ensure the reader’s experience. The tale of the southern woman began with her doctor’s appointment. Mrs. Turpin entered the building on her high horse looking down on the other patients in the waiting room. This blatant

Turpin for who she is. In the midst of the outbreak, Mary grace told Mrs. Turpin, “Go back to hell where you came from, you old wart hog.” This fairly explicit comment led Mrs. Turpin to a place of self-reflection. Hell is a very strong word for a devout, practicing Christian to hear, especially about one’s self. Mrs. Turpin is very proud to exclaim that she and God are very close as well as that she holds her religion in a very high regard. As many southerners hold Christianity in the highest regard, it makes sense that any insult or question to their fate is an attack on their character. This where the ethical appeal plays a role in the development of the theme in the short story. This woman has black employees that work at her residence and yet she refers to black people as niggers. As harsh as that word may be, it is a word that is in her and her husband’s vocabulary. This disconnect in her claims of being a Christian woman and her using this derogatory term is ironic. How is it that this woman, as Christian as may be, uses a term that is so outdated and offensive. The ironic theme is then further explored by her description of the Mary Grace. When explaining the situation of the attack to her workers, she described Mary Grace in a very unflattering light. Mrs. Turpin told her employees, “A big fat girl with her face all broke out. I could look at that girl and tell she was peculiar but I couldn't tell how.” These descriptions

A person has horrendous as Mrs. Turpin brings rage in the people around them. This is exactly what happened. Mary Grae was quietly tending to her own when a couple, the Turpins, disrupt her afternoon. After several cues that this couple only brings misery to their surroundings, Mary Grace continued to ignore the couple. Up until her mother engages in conversation, which sparked more rage in Mary Grace. Once Mrs. Turpin began and continued to throw subtle, indirect insults to Mary Grace, Mary Grace acknowledged them and simply said, “ I have ears.” This comment is enough for anyone to stop and change the conversation. This was not enough for Mrs. Turpin. She yet again continued to scowl Mary Grace. This caused the reaction that was the pivotal movement in Mrs. Turpin. With the comments made by Turpin, Mary Grace’s reaction was warranted and as a reader, it is easy to feel anger towards Turpin. This is where the emotional appeal employed by O’Connor is seen. She played the audience’s emotions to show that Mrs. Turpin was this person that deserves to have a book thrown at her. O'Connor proved to her audience that her character was this person that is so despicable that a book is the least of her