Flannery O’Connor’s stories are, by her own account, “preoccupied with the grotesque.” The reason, some argue, is that the grotesque is fascinating to the southern imagination.
This story has haunted me since I first read it in college - with no aspirations to become a PhD in philosophy! 😝 John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” gives me the same feeling of tragedy and betrayal and horror. I think the main difference between the two is that, like you say, Joy is supposed to know better, with her nihilism and book-smarts, and so when she’s completely taken advantage of by one of the first people to show her what seems like real kindness, it lays bare the way in which nihilism doesn’t actually protect you from being hurt. What do you think?
I would guess that, on O'Connor's view, it's the nihilism which makes her vulnerable, and her intelligence is worthless in the absence of a proper relation to God.
I got to visit Flannery O'Connor's home in Georgia once. And seeing the barn behind her house immediately got us to remember this story when they climb up to the hayloft. That had to be what she was describing in this story...
Anyway, now I have to read it again to remember some of the other details.
One of my favorite O'Connor stories, for what it's worth, is "The River."
This story has haunted me since I first read it in college - with no aspirations to become a PhD in philosophy! 😝 John Steinbeck’s short story “The Chrysanthemums” gives me the same feeling of tragedy and betrayal and horror. I think the main difference between the two is that, like you say, Joy is supposed to know better, with her nihilism and book-smarts, and so when she’s completely taken advantage of by one of the first people to show her what seems like real kindness, it lays bare the way in which nihilism doesn’t actually protect you from being hurt. What do you think?
I would guess that, on O'Connor's view, it's the nihilism which makes her vulnerable, and her intelligence is worthless in the absence of a proper relation to God.
I got to visit Flannery O'Connor's home in Georgia once. And seeing the barn behind her house immediately got us to remember this story when they climb up to the hayloft. That had to be what she was describing in this story...
Anyway, now I have to read it again to remember some of the other details.
One of my favorite O'Connor stories, for what it's worth, is "The River."
Is the home worth a visit?