Flannery O Connor Grandmother

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Recommended: History of the women's movement

The struggles, as well as achievements, of the female gender have long been documented in history books. From the fight of suffrage in the early years of America to the most recent attempt in obtaining the coveted seat of President of the United States, feminism has prevailed in providing a platform for women to come together in such endeavors. Females have used marches, protests, volunteering in political campaigns, petitioning, gaining political positions, and all other means afforded to them in voicing their views. One of the earliest forms of conveying an opposing view to society that is still apparent today is by means of Literature. Before the outspoken feminist, the idea of a woman speaking out of turn or contradicting society’s view …show more content…

Set in the 1950s American South, O’Conner’s short story sees the Grandmother have characteristics of a narcissist. The Grandmother’s lack of humility contradicts every word spewing out of her mouth throughout most of the story. “The Grandmother didn’t want to go to Florida. She wanted to visit some of her connections in east Tennessee and she was seizing at every chance to change Bailey’s mind” (O'Conner). Within the story’s first sentence the selfishness of The Grandmother is exposed. Society today has yet to accomplish, in its entirety, the elimination of selfishness. The actions of The Grandmother and the consequences brought on by them provide today’s society with a warning to such a flaw. Perhaps it is because society of the 1950s shared the same artificial values regarding morality and upbringing as The Grandmother that not once did the family consider the manipulative actions of her character. Through society’s eventual retreat from such “traditional” views in family, has it decreased the provocations of how others view us is more important than living morally. Tradition is well and good provided it isn’t at the expense of one’s own virtue or/and loved ones. Often undeserving of salvation, it comes too late to those whose actions in life deterred them of seeking it before the

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