Introduction
Authors across almost all genres of literature incorporate references to Christian theology in their writing. Christian imagery potentially helps deepen an author’s portrayal of ideas and concepts because readers employ their working knowledge of Christian theology to make sense of an author’s text. However, many of these religious references go unnoticed by students of literature who do not possess background knowledge on Christian theology. As a result, students of literature often fail to gain a greater, more thorough understanding of texts that rely heavily on references to Christian theology to convey ideas and concepts.
Flannery O’Connor, a devout Catholic writer from Georgia who wrote two novels and thirty-one short stories, as well as numerous essays, letters, and reviews, often uses references to Christianity and themes relating to Christian theology in her work. The prevalence of religious material in her writing demonstrates the importance of O’Connor’s faith and devotion to the church in her life. Sally Fitzgerald, a friend of O’Connor who compiled the letters collected in The Habit of Being, describes in that collection’s introduction the significance of O’Connor’s faith. Christianity was not simply a part of her life but a characteristic embedded firmly in her personality. Fitzgerald writes that O'Connor "maintained throughout her life that the Church in no way impaired her true freedom, either in the practice of her art or in her personal life. She gladly honored the prerogatives claimed by the Church, holding that what the Church gave her far outweighed any demands it made in return" (O'Connor, xv). As a result, Fitzgerald confidently asserts that O’Connor never doubted her faith or showed the slightest consideration to leave the Catholic church. Therefore, it is not surprising that the depth of O’Connor’s ties to Christianity come through quite plainly in her work.
The first goal of the research contained in this website is to deeply examine where, why, and how O’Connor incorporates allusions to Christianity, specifically in her fictional short stories, and to explore the overall function of these references in the texts. This website serves as a tool for students of literature interested in the religious themes of O’Connor’s short stories but who do not possess sufficient background knowledge of Christian theology to make clear sense of the Christian references. Therefore, this website breaks down twenty-five of O’Connor’s stories by examining the use of religious imagery for each specified work, providing explanation, analysis, and insight as well as source material to direct further research.
Vanessa Fickes, the creator and developer of this website, enjoys the work of Flannery O'Connor. Vanessa was raised as a Methodist within the mainstream Protestant faith tradition, and she understands many of the Biblical stories with which O'Connor was familiar. However, Vanessa's fondness of O'Connor's work has created an interest in researching O'Connor's Catholicism, which Vanessa's Christian background leads her to respect and admire. Vanessa is a senior majoring in English at the University of Mary Washington (UMW) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Her research was completed as an independent study in the Department of English and Linguistics and as a capstone project for UMW’s Honors Program. The capstone project, which allows for self-directed, immersive research and learning in a field of one’s choosing, serves as the culmination of an Honors Scholar’s work. Vanessa presented her research in December 2021 at the UMW Honors Program Symposium. She will graduate with University Honors in May 2022, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also a Secondary Education student in the UMW College of Education’s five-year Masters of Education program.
Dr. Gary Richards, Chair of the Department of English and Linguistics and Professor of English, advised Vanessa on this research project. Dr. Richards specializes in U.S. literature, specifically twentieth- and twenty-first-century U.S. fiction and drama; literature of the U.S. South; African American literature; and gender and sexuality studies.
Works Cited
O’Connor, Flannery. The Habit of Being. Edited by Sally Fitzgerald, New York City, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1979.