Transformation in a Moment of Grace: Analysis of Flannery O'Connor

In her stories, "Everything That Rises Must Converge" and "Revelation," Flannery O'Connor presents her characters with what she calls a "moment of grace." This moment provides her characters with an opportunity to be transformed. Each character must decide how he or she will react to this moment. They can use the moment to make changes in their attitudes and their lives, or they can allow the moment to pass them by, and continue as they are.

In "Everything That Rises Must Converge," Julian sees himself as someone who knows who he is. He is disdainful of his mother because he believes she lives in the past. He treats her poorly because of her prejudice, and attempts to teach her lessons to improve her behavior in his eyes. The irony is that he tries to think of ways to present his mother with her "moment of grace," only to realize in the end that he is the one who needs it. He sees that she is condescending to others because she believes herself to be better than they, and so he is condescending to her because he sees himself to be better than her.

It seems that Julian is presented with multiple "moments of grace." Each time he sees some way to teach his mother a lesson, he also has the chance to learn a lesson. He doesn't realize that his attraction to black people is simply to upset his mother. He believes his tolerance of black people makes him better, yet his underlying reason for being tolerant overshadows his actions. If he had realized this sooner, he might not have pushed his mother so much. It was unlikely that would change her attitude anyway. In the end, after his mother is apparently suffering from a stroke, he finally realizes that his attitude needs to change. It was unfortunate that these circumstances were necessary to bring about "his entry into the world of guilt and sorrow."

In "Revelation," Mrs. Turpin has attitudes very similar to Julian's mother. The difference is that Mrs. Turpin doesn't have someone constantly trying to change her attitude. In the doctor's office, she finds herself surrounded by others with similar attitudes. The only expressed attitude which seems to vary is from the woman that Mrs. Turpin refers to as "white trash," and her attitude is even worse. Mrs. Turpin's first "moment" comes when a girl throws a book at her during a conversation. The girl has seemed upset and angry throughout the conversation that is taking place. After Mrs. Turpin has recovered somewhat from the blow she received, the girl tells her that she is a wart hog from hell.

Mrs. Turpin's reaction to this comment is delayed. She becomes indignant later when she is alone, caring for the pigs. She seems to be trying to start an argument with God over the message he has sent her. She doesn't take advantage of the first "moment of grace."

Her second moment comes when she sees a "vision" while cleaning the "pig parlor." The vision apparently shows her that she is no better than those she sees as being lower than herself. Her attitude is changed in some way because as she heads for the house, she imagines that the sound of the crickets is the voices of souls singing hallelujah. This would indicate a change in her attitude, because she had been arguing with God, and now she seems more content. In this case, the violent act triggers a later reaction which brings about the change in her attitude. The events of the doctor's office and the vision are closely related in bringing about Mrs. Turpin's "moment of grace."

In each of these stories, the act of violence is necessary to bring about change in the desired character. Both of the main characters have other opportunities to see the needed changes, yet it takes the violent act before the need for change comes into focus. In Julian's case, the change appears to have come too late. The end of the story indicates that his mother is dying before he comes to terms with his attitude and the need for it to change. Mrs. Turpin, on the other hand, seems to be left with the time to make use of her change of attitude.

In the end, the violent act does present each of these characters the opportunity to change, their "moment of grace." In both instances, it would seem that the character takes advantage of the moment, with similar results in their attitudes, but differing results in their lives.