Chapter Analysis Of My Father By Flannery O Connor

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Recommended: Effects of childhood abuse to adulthood

The second chapter of the memoir focuses on the author’s father. In the first chapter, the author introduces his family and alludes to his negative attitude toward his father. In the second chapter, he recalls specific details of his father, including how he dresses and acts in addition to discussing particular memories of him. His father’s alcoholism plays a major part in the author’s negative attitude. O’Connor describes these recollections with a negative, resentful tone which shows that he does not have fond memories of his father. The author begins the second chapter by recalling his father’s appearance. He describes his father as a “really fine looking man”. Continuing, he explains how his father “dressed carefully” so much that he even “put an open white handkerchief in his breast pocket”. Though in these descriptions he appears to have a positive, respectful attitude toward his father, he proceeds to mention numerous ways in the contrary. In one of the following paragraphs he makes the statement, “Nothing could ever persuade Father that he was anything but a naturally home-loving body – which, indeed, for a great part of the time, he was”. By saying this the author recognizes that his father thinks of …show more content…

This can be seen as one of the authors largest reasons for having a resenting, negative tone in regard to his father. O’Connor describes shaking memories of his father’s unpredictability due to his addiction. When his father was sober, he would be sociable and humorous. However, when he craving a drink, he would be ornery, irritable, and even scary. O’Connor stated, “Only when he had money for drink would we have peace for an hour” (35). This lead to his mother selling her best blue suit, their house clocks, and even her wedding ring to continue to feed his father’s addiction. Both the author and his mother felt unsafe and home because of his

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