Analysis Of Everything That Rises Must Converge

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Racism has been a huge dilemma over the years. Flannery O’Conner’s short story “Everything That Rises Must Converge” explains the different views of Julian and his mother. Julian 's mother was born during the times of slavery. Therefore she has a strong dislike for African Americans. With Julian 's mothers racism it disconnected her from her son.
When you grew up in the time where slavery existed and you are watching African Americans succeeding in the world can be astonishing. Julian 's mother came from a family who had everything and owned slaves. Now she is basically nobody who owns nothing but a son who graduated college. Once Julian told his mother there were no more slaves, she replied “They were better off when they were” (O’Conner …show more content…

Even though Julian mother has a strong will but she also questions her decisions. Julian’s goal is to set a clear distinction from himself and his mother. Julian’s mother cares deeply for appearances, she always felt the need to wear a hat and gloves just to keep up her image. Julian’s mother is very stubborn and can be seen through her description of how she views African Americans and Racism. His mother way brought up in a time when racism was okay, that is all she knows, and his mindset is set in what she thought when she was growing up. Julian’s mindset is that people change with time and that everyone should adjust to times. He tries to explain to his mother that times have change and that the person she grew up as is not the person she is now. He like her to understand that she is no longer this high society white women, she is just like everyone else now. Julian realizes that he isn’t very popular with people and he would like his mother to realize that she is not superior just because she is a white women. He believes his mother wasted her time trying to raise him the “right” way and think that she made some unnecessary sacrifices. Julian is very depressed because she put a lot of time and effort into him and he is fed up with the world and he wants her understand they share the same values.
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