The Violent Bear It Away Thesis Statement

Critical Analysis Essay on The Violent Bear It Away

Thesis Statement: Flannery O’Connor was an extraordinary writer, but despite the fact that she only lived to be thirty-nine because of lupus. It did not stop her from writing The Violent Bear It Away which has a religious approach on explaining two different worldviews. Within the novel O’Connor dives into a confused boy’s head and his battle between choosing Christianity and a more American, secular, and science based lifestyle. Throughout the Novel it is to believe that Christianity has been tamed by America. What being Christian means is being nice and respectful of others, not drinking and not over-indulging into sensations. O’Connor wants to paint a picture of Christianity to the audience

“…The Violent Bear It Away –was not only an artistic concern of her but a theological one as well” (Peters). Old Man Tarwater raises Young Tarwater is all based on belief, the belief that God is real and proceeds to warn Young Tarwater that he will be tempted by the devil and he will need forgiveness. These viewpoints seem rather similar to the stranger’s voice and what Rayber has to say to young Tarwater. Old Man Tarwaters education revolves around setting Young Tarwater up for the real world whereas Raybers education is a denial of the real world. He denies the human necessity for God. Although Christianity may not seem blissful to some, the question still stands is which one is higher on the pedestal. On the contrary to Rayber being a good example of a typical American; Old Man Tarwater isn’t to be considered a person with an American point of view noting at the fact that he thinks some people were chosen by God having an advantage over others instead of us all being equal. “Ironically, the old man has assumed a God-Like position over the boy, by telling the boy that there is no question about young Tarwater’s future duties to God.”(Holm). This is because Old Man Tarwater does not care about the progression of mankind; he does not care about social and economic status. He cares about the soul and more importantly for example, “But no matter how little they had now, his uncle said, their reward in the end was the Lord Jesus Himself, the bread of life!” (O’Connor 62). This basically states that Old Man Tarwater is more focused salvation and not really caring about any evolution of