How Does O Connor Present Enoch's Descent Into The Gorilla

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Enoch spends the majority of the novel resisting his animalistic nature, yet at the end of the novel, kills a man and ironically wears the man’s gorilla costume. O’Connor takes such a literal approach to this animal nature, a metaphor for the most of the novel until the introduction of the gorilla. After being disrespected by the false gorilla, Enoch gives in to the nature that he had fought for so many years of his life and murders the man. McGuire writes, Maybe Enoch's transformation into a gorilla does indicate his descent into bestiality. It does not have the power to improve Enoch's identity simply because he wishes it to, but by virtue of its thingness it can prove Enoch wrong. The gorilla suit is not an object because it is not a representation, and because it is not limited to one specific use or effect. (175) …show more content…

The difference is, however, Enoch views his nature as inhumane, a devolved version of his own personality. To counteract his descent into his fate, Enoch sticks to a routine and, despite having concerning thoughts, lives a normal life for a small town teenager. However, seeing Gonga the gorilla sets off something inside Enoch. His wise blood sparks curiosity inside Enoch and demands that Enoch pursue the gorilla. After killing the gorilla, O’Connor gives the reader a humorous, yet unnerving dose of irony as Enoch dons the gorilla costume of the murdered man. Similar to Haze, Enoch eventually gives in to what he knew all along was in his

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