Flannery O' Connor Responses

1. The South is the setting for all of O'Connor's stories. What portrait of the South emerges? Consider minor characters, the South in transition, the myth of the Southern genteel lady as contrasted with the suburban housewife or Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Crater. The South that Flannery O'Connor describes in all of her stories is a South of truth. In "Everything that Rises Must Converge," Julian's mother is forced to deal with the transition of the …

…apparent at the instance that she tries to get him to talk to her and teach her to say things such as 'sweetie-pie'. Although Tom is saddened by her harsh but true words of him, he is never truly desperate until after the marriage and journey with Lucynell. He is shocked and concerned about the responsibilities that he now has as Lucynell's caretaker and is desperate to be the free spirit that he once was.