This new assessment of a major southern writer's work offers a
revisionist view of her characters, who in the past twenty-five
years of critical attention too often and too easily have been
labeled grotesque. O'Connor's stories and novels are usually
considered mere dramatizations of her stated orthodox religious
commitments. According to the predominant view, the typical
O'Connor work consists of a set of corrupt characters and an
authoritative narrator who analyzes their theological errors. When
redemption occurs, according to this view, it results from forces
outside the character and against that character's will. Although
such a reading adequately describes a few works, it misunderstands
O'Connor's general handling of narration and of characterization.
Marshall Bruce Gentry proposes new positions on O'Connor's
narration and on the role of the grotesque in her characterization.
By investigating the nature of religious experience in her works,
he concludes that O'Connor's primary interest is redemption
achieved by grotesque and unconscious means. Often in O'Connor's
works, redemption becomes a moment of freedom in a continuing
process of degradation and reformation. The real focus of
O'Connor's fiction is the grotesque path toward redemption. As
Gentry points out, by sending themselves toward physical
annihilation, her characters typically take control of their
redemption.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
(2)
(1)
