The Juxtaposition Of Julian And Reality, By Flannery O Connor

The Juxtaposition of Julian and Reality Flannery O’Connor was an American novelist and short-story writer during the mid-twentieth century who embraced the Southern Gothic style of writing and relied heavily on the presentation of flawed characters and the use of literary techniques to expose their inadequacies. With the use of irony, satire, and setting, O’Connor enhanced the impact of her psychologically disturbed characters and grotesque storylines. She courageously analyzed the taboo topics of human sin and questioned the authenticity of Christian values, allowing her unique style of writing to be favorable amongst scholars. In 1950, with social and racial tensions overcoming the South, O’Connor penned the short story entitled “Everything

From the reader’s initial encounter with Julian, O’Connor fabricates a gloomy disposition that remains consistent with Julian’s character. O'Connor describes Julian’s movements by writing “He walked along, saturated in depression, as if in the midst of his martyrdom he had lost his faith” (O’Connor 198). Along with his dejected personality, Julian appears to be highly irritated and disengaged when interacting with his mother. It is depicted that Julian often recedes “...into the inner compartment of his mind where he spends most of his time” (O’Connor 201). O’Connor indicates that Julian disregards all interactions with his mother and does not engage in reality despite his desire to do so. The rationale behind the negative personality traits that Julian possesses most likely derives from Julian’s response to his mother’s personality and their conflicting temperaments. His mother’s relentless optimism and cheerful disposition ignite Julian’s short-temper and pessimistic personality. Julian’s mother’s character constitutes as a constant reminder to him that her self-confidence stems from her disdainful actions towards

Despite Julian’s disapproval of his mother’s condescending actions towards individuals of a different race, Julian’s belief that he possesses a progressive mindset and higher education is proven inaccurate. Julian presumes he is very accepting and willing to embrace the sudden changes of integration and the progressive movement towards equality in the South. However, Julian's selfish desire to compete with his mother leads O’Connor to expose the condescending and conceited traits that Julian possesses. When reflecting on the ways in which he could possibly obtain the pleasure in teaching his mother a lesson, he imagines that “He might make friends with some distinguished Negro professor or lawyer...” or he contemplates her reaction if “...he brought home a beautiful suspiciously Negroid woman” (O’Connor 203). Julian fantasizes about using a variety of successful black characters in order to construct the perfect lesson to humble his mother. By wanting to take advantage of these imagined individuals’ distinguishing traits, while simultaneously emphasizing their race, O’Connor reveals that Julian is rather a hypocrite and haughty