Flannery OConnor and William Faulkners Characters and...

Flannery OConnor and William Faulkners Characters and Morality Flannery O’Connor and William Faulkner refuse to surrender to the temptation of writing fanciful stories where the hero defeats the villain and everyone lives happily ever after. Instead, these two writers reveal realistic portrayals of death and the downfall of man. Remarkably, O’Connor and Faulkner’s most emotionally degraded characters fail to believe that an omnipotent deity controls their fate. This belief directly correlates to the characters’ inability to follow a strict set of morals or value human life. On the other hand, one might expect Faulkner and O’Connor’s â€Å"Christian† characters to starkly contrast the vile heathens who deny the existence of God.†¦show more content†¦Finally, a young lady sees through the hypocrisy and rages against Mrs. Turpin, whispering, â€Å"Go back to hell where you belong, you old wart hog. This comment pierces Mrs. Turpin’s very soul and makes her question her way of li fe. Faced with the concept that she is not the respectable woman she thinks she is, Mrs. Turpin questions God and His plans for her life. Traditionally, southerners attend church, worship the Lord, and look to their pastors for guidance. In fact, most people tend to place their ministers on a pedestal with a more rigid standard of morality. As sheep following a shepherd, a church follows its pastor with trust and conviction. However, Faulkner makes it clear that even the most prominent and up standing men may have hidden sins. For instance, Whitfield, the town preacher, and Addie Bundren conceal their affair from society. Whitfield longs for forgiveness and states, â€Å"I have sinned, O Lord. Thou knowest the extent of my remorse and the will of my spirit.† However, due to Whitfield’s position in the church, he should be held to a higher standard. Although he repents of his sin, he carries a burden of iniquity that will inevitably interfere with other relationships he has built in the church. Similarly, the grandmother in A Good Man is Hard to Find seeks after her own interests and not tho se of her family even though she appears to be the epitome of a God fearing southern woman. She manipulates her grandchildren andShow MoreRelatedA Rose for Emily - Biography William Faulkner3892 Words   |  16 PagesBIOGRAPHY William Faulkner (September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was a Nobel Prize-winning American author. One of the most influential writers of the 20th century, his reputation is based on his novels, novellas and short stories. However, he was also a published poet and an occasional screenwriter. Most of Faulkners works are set in his native state of Mississippi, and he is considered one of the most important Southern writers, along with Mark Twain, Robert Penn Warren, Flannery OConnor, Truman