READING FLANNERY O'CONNOR
I have been reading Flannery O’Connor. In a fascinating essay entitled “The Catholic Novelist in the Protestant South” [Mystery and Manners, selected and eds. Sally and Robert Fitzgerald (London: Faber and Faber, 1972)], she makes this extremely revealing remark about how a Catholic writes fiction:
“The Catholic novel…cannot see man as determined; it cannot see him as totally depraved. It will see him as incomplete in himself, as prone to evil, but as redeemable when his own efforts are assisted by grace” (p.196-197).
She goes on to talk about the centre of meaning of the Catholic novel being Christ—but the above quote is so quintessentially Roman Catholic.
“The Catholic novel…cannot see man as determined; it cannot see him as totally depraved. It will see him as incomplete in himself, as prone to evil, but as redeemable when his own efforts are assisted by grace” (p.196-197).
She goes on to talk about the centre of meaning of the Catholic novel being Christ—but the above quote is so quintessentially Roman Catholic.
Hi Dr. Haykin,
You'd be interested to check out the online articles at Credenda/Agenda magazine. The whole issue is dedicated to Flannery O'Connor.
http://www.credenda.org
Posted by
Ian Hugh Clary |
8:19 a.m.
That quote goes well beyond the novel and right into the pews and parlors of Catholic families and individuals all over the world.
Sad.
Posted by
NPE |
6:11 p.m.
Michael I have read 2 stories by O'Connor. The following quote is from a short storey called"The Artifical Nigger" http://xroads.virginia.edu/~DRBR/oconnor4.htmlYeah I know it not politally correctBut her view on sin is interesting. I invite you respose
Mr. Head stood very still and felt the action of mercy touch him again but this
time he knew that there were no words in the world chat could name it. He
understood that it grew out of agony, which is not denied to any man and which is
given in strange ways to children. He understood it was all a man could carry into
death to give his Maker and he suddenly burned with shame chat he had so little of
it to take with him. He stood appalled, judging himself with the thoroughness of
God, while the action of mercy covered his pride like a flame and consumed it. He
had never thought him self a great sinner before but he saw now that his true
depravity had been hidden from him lest it cause him despair. He realized that he
was forgiven for sins from the beginning of time, when he had conceived in his own
heart the sin of Adam, until the present, when he had denied poor Nelson. He saw
that no Sin was too monstrous for him to claim as his own, and since God loved in
proportion as He forgave, he felt ready at that instant to enter Paradise.
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:45 p.m.
Thanks Ian and yes Nate.
Like many, Flannery seems to have been inconsistent, does she not, Bartimaeus? That sure does not square with what she said in her essay.
Posted by
Michael A G Haykin |
10:12 p.m.
I enjoyed the Credenda/Agenda articles. I've loved Flannery O'Connor stories since I first read them in college. I had never heard about her, but I knew there was something special about her. I just ordered Flannery O'Connor: A Proper Scaring. It's a analysis of O'Connor's stories.
Posted by
Steve Weaver |
10:22 p.m.
A lot of semi-pelaginists waffle like that.
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:34 a.m.
I recently read the Credenda Agenda on O'Connor (that Ian mentioned) and I was so intrigued that I took out O'Connor from the library. I just picked it up yesterday. Doug Jones's article on O'Connor's view of grace is worth a read. I also recently discovered Graham Greene, another brilliant Catholic novelist. In fact I highly recommend The Power and the Glory by Greene. As for O'Connor, I might post a review on my blog when I am done.
Jeremy
Posted by
Jeremy W. Johnston |
8:39 p.m.
Jeremy
Looking forward to the blog post.
Posted by
Michael A G Haykin |
11:59 p.m.