Ok. So what are the top five Flannery O’Connor short stories? Everyone always lists “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and, of course, that would have to be in the top five, but that’s too easy. Let’s agree to place it to the side for the purposes of this list. What are the five best other than “A Good Man”? Here’s my list:
1. “Greenleaf” (the Bull takes care of business: “‘With the Momma I got it’s a wonder I turned out to be such a nice boy!’”)
2. “The Enduring Chill” (the arrogance of the modern gets a rebuke from purgatory: “‘Don’t you think if I’d wanted to go to a doctor I’d have gone up there where they have some good ones?’”).
3. “The Lame Shall Enter First” (shepherd or Savior: “‘Save yourself,’ he hissed. ‘Nobody can save me but Jesus.’”)
4. “Parker’s Back” (can’t get away from Jesus: “‘Mr. Parker,’ she said, ‘you’re a walking panner-rammer!’”)
5. “Revelation” (Mrs. Turpin gets brought down a notch . . . or two: “When I think who all I could have been besides myself . . . . I feel like shouting, ‘Thank you Jesus for making everything the way it is!’”).
I’d put “Everything that Rises Must Converge,” “The Enduring Chill,” and “Good Country People” among my favorites. All deal with an arrogant “intellectual” main character who despises the earthy simplicity around them. These characters’ critiques aren’t always off-target–but their attitudes certainly are.
I haven’t read “Crazy for God” by Frank Schaeffer, but from the reviews I have read about its ungrateful and sometimes mocking tone, his book would give Miss O’Connor plenty of material to work with if she were still around.
Steve,
I would have to think about the rest, but I would list “Enduring Chill” as my first and “Revelation” as my second. Regarding Flannery’s characters, though I grew up in central Texas (not the Deep South) I can for sure recall, from my childhood especially, folks just like many of Flannery’s characters, especially Mrs. Turpin. Accordingly I add my prayer to Jamie’s: That I might not be “skewered” with the rest. Re: “Revelation” like “Enduring Chill” the ending just blew me away; I loved the imagery of the lame (the poor) “leaping like frogs” and the (dawning) astonishment of their Turpin-like followers. I always wondered at the cause of that, if it was dreadful or not.
Angie,
so true, but Franky would be almost too big a target and I think Flannery would think it too easy — like being asked to pick out the Pentecostal minister at the diocese meeting.
I see your point…she might choose instead the person who points out the person who would be a fitting target. Yikes–that would be me!
no, not you, I think her target would be the one who indignantly denounced Franky while despising his own parents. It seems to me that her targets are not the “sinners” but the Pharisees.
Just wanted y’all to know that I’ve been enjoying your new blog and am now inspired to read some Flannery O’Connor.
David in Grand Coteau
David: Read her and as Yoda says, “sorry, you will not be.”
“Everything That Rises Must Converge” was instrumental in my coming to faith in Christ. So I’m a bit partial to it, but to add a post-modern, southern writer to the mix Gail Godwin is wonderful. Godwin crafts an ingenious piece to criticize the notion that lying is always wrong. Continually she reiterates the point that she is so angry with all the bad things around her, and outlines the various plans she implements to change things. However every plan she implements fails and serves only to make her even more angry at the fact that she hasn’t found an idea to promote yet. No matter what injustice(hypocrisy) she chooses to attack in her attack she creates another injustice. Until the end when she realizes that the only injustice making her angry is the one that is inside of her. Notice the two words that shouldn’t be capitalized that she does. Independent and Culprit.
And of course in my haste I forgot to mention the name of Godwin’s piece “The Angry Year”.
Joseph, thanks, but where can I find this? Is it in a collection of short stories?