Flannery O'Connor: The Master of Symbolism

The writings of Flannery O'Connor may seem bitter and detached, as well as harsh and violent, to the uneducated reader. Her stories usually end in bizarre and grotesque ways. In actuality, her stories are filled with deep meaning and symbolism, veiled in plain sight (Silliman). She was a master at using symbolism in her work; the following stories attest to this fact. She used symbolism to further enhance the themes of "A Good Man is …

…that the themes of "A Good Man is Hard to Find," "Greenleaf," and "Revelation" would not have had a fraction of the effect had Flannery O'Connor not used the symbolism to support her themes. Each aspect of symbolism added to the moral and religious meanings behind the stories. The inexperienced reader may not clearly see these underlying connotations, but with time, he or she may grasp these concepts and reach his or her own epiphany.