O’Connor’s depiction of humanity’s struggle with surrender and submission touched me more deeply than most of the modern works I’ve read lately. At one point–when Hulga starts shushing the boy and trying to seduce him into atheism–I actually felt some kind of strong internal reaction and inexplicably threw the book across the room. I felt repulsed, furious, and horrified all at the same time. Very few stories have ever drilled that far into my core, and it was certainly a surprise to me. —Chris Ulicne —O’Connor, Good Country People: What is the meaning of this? (Below Zero)
For the past few weeks, in my American Lit class we’ve been reading A Good Man is Hard to Find, a collection of short stories by Flannery O’Connor. The students have responded very well to the stories, though Chris’s reaction is unusually strong. I’m glad to know these works are having an effect on my students. I’ve been trying to get the students to discuss how O’Connor uses dark images and themes because without them, there’s no way to emphasize light.
A little over a century ago, the printer T.J. Cobden-Sanderson took it upon himself to surreptitiously dump…
A quick Sunday visit to #fortligonier with my history-loving son.
The choreographer daughter is doing a thing.
No interior yet. Getting there. Gotta start somewhere. Low-poly background detail for a medieval theater…
This is manageable. Far better than some semesters.
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I'd like to invite the anonymous visitor who submitted a comment here to explain his or her perspective a little more... the comment as submitted seems more like a personal attack than a thoughtful opinion. I'm not even sure exactly whom you are attacking.
I welcome differences of opinion, but I'd rather not encourage name-calling.
At this point in the story, since Hulga doesn't know the bible-seller's true motives and true attitude towards religion, it's still fair to interpret her actions as an attempt to seduce.
I dont think it was a seduction into atheism. She was wanting sex and yes she was an atheist. But the man stated he didnt believe in the bible anyway, so how was it that you say she is seducing him into atheism.