Critical Analysis Essay on Flannery O'Connor's Revelation and John Updike's Pigeon Feathers

Introduction

A critical analysis of the literature materials provides important thematic concepts used in each book depending on the emphasis of the authors. The critical of the books also ensures that the right settings of the narrative are identified based on the themes used by the respective authors.

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The critical analysis of "Revelation" by Flannery O'Connor provides important factors that forced the author to write the book according to her inspirations and literacy skills. Flannery O'Connor was influenced by her background to write the short story "Revelation." One important influential aspect of her story is the nature of the Southern upbringing. According to O'Connor, many people were living with different challenges because due to the existence of diversity; therefore, resulting to racial discrimination the southerners believed that other people are inferior and less fortunate due to differences in racial (O'Connor, 5). The South provided appropriate images that O'Connor needed for the development of her themes in the short story. Mrs. Turpin is one of the characters in Flannery O'Connor's short story "Revelation" that represents prejudice in the book due to her judgmental nature. Mrs. Turpin spends most of her life prying in the lives of other people around her. Mrs. Turpin judge people depending on their racial groups and their social standing (O'Connor, 24).

On the other hand, the analysis of the "Pigeon Feathers" by John Updike provides insightful information on the identification of the thematic concepts in the book. John Updike's "Pigeon Feathers" mentions that change is a gradual process in the lives of all people in the world. Change is the main theme presented in the book, for example, David is one of the characters in the story who experienced a lot of changes in his life (Updike, 4). Change is the main theme in the story because some of the changes emphasized include change of faith, change of setting, and change of world perspective. The setting of the short story "Pigeon Feathers" is a homestead. David is a young person that is shaped by changes in the outer world and his figures form the important aspects that determine his life (Updike, 2). Fiction is identified from Updike's story when David gives the message from God. It is fictional to mention that God replied to David in his prayers. John Updike uses fiction as one of the literacy styles to improves his skills and attract the attention of readers. The words like "Heaven" or "God" does not mean to David because every foundation in his life is shaken in the world (Updike, 31). David the main characters whose perspective changes in the world then undergoes individual changes. The changes in David's life was transitional due to his confusion on Christianity. In both "Revelation" and "Pigeon Feathers," the settings of the stories will be analyzed in this essay depending on literary elements used by the authors in presenting their concepts.

How Fiction is Used in "Revelation" and "Pigeon Feathers"

In her short story, O'Connor uses different approaches to develop fiction depending on the setting. The setting identified in O'Connor's short story, "Revelation" is based on the healthcare facility because the author mentioned that Turpin entered the Doctor's almost full room. It is also clear that the patients were many in the hospital when Mrs. Turpin arrived in the facility. O'Connor is careful about how she utilized her writing skills to describe the settings of the story. The author also creates ambiguity by enabling the reader to have an option and perpetuate the stereotype. Turpin's character enables her to describe other people as "ugly," "dirty," "nigger" and "white-trash," the use of such discriminative demonstrates Turpin's prejudice (O'Connor, 18). Though this Southern Christian white woman is superficially pleasant and well-mannered, she conceals her ugly thoughts of class stratum cognizant of what is below her pedestal. A church-going woman who treats slaves fairly, she believes her time volunteered and philosophy of doing things for others are enough to sanctify her ugliness on the inside. In her short story, O' Connor is an omniscient narrator because she mentions that "Mrs. Turpin felt at awful pity... it was one thing to be ugly and another to act ugly" (O'Connor, 473). O' Connor is using as irony in her story to represent the character traits of Mrs. Turpin because she acts ugly. Mrs. Turpin is also arrogant about her position in life. O'Connor uses third-person narration in her story to describe the personalities of main characters like Mrs. Turpin and how she interacts with other people around her. O' Connor uses fiction and a literary element to describe how Mrs. Turpin's arrogance affects her relationships with other people. In this case, fiction is symbolic because it represents how Mrs. Turpin will submissive while conversing with God during the Day of Judgment. O' Connor also uses fiction to develop how Mrs. Turpin arrogance affected interaction with other people from diverse racial groups.

John Updike uses his skills to describe the importance of family in changing the life of David. Updike uses fiction to describe how the life of David was changed and how the impacts of the challenges he faced made him question the nature of Christianity. In his short story, Updike also uses fiction to expound how religion and death resulted in perspective changes in life. Updike uses the third-person narration to describe the lifestyle of David's family. The family is full of tension after David's grandmother developed Parkinson's disease because the mother is so stressed about how she will take care of her. Fiction is also used by Updike when David tries to get answers from their pastor for the differences in his family (Updike, 6). The pastor fails to provide an appropriate solution for the issue, rather, he becomes defensive on the religion. The inability of the pastor to give relevant answers for reconciling the differences made David question his religion and concludes that Christianity is organized to promote salvation without considering the challenges of its believers (Updike, 14). Fiction is also evident when David was told by his mother that God was created by humankind. David rejected his mother's idea because he was aware that God created human beings through his spirits. Religious beliefs are also fictional because no one has evidence to support if eternal life exists. David is directed by his mother to shoot the pigeons that were fouling the stored furniture and the barn in the house. After shooting some pigeons, his mother also commands him to bury them. David closely looked at the markings on the pigeons. The process of burying the pigeons made David realize the responsibilities of God in the creation and sustenance of life (Updike, 22). Shooting and burying of pigeons were fictional and symbolizes death as a passage towards eternal life in heaven.

The critical analysis of the two short stories provides an overview that is developed depending on how each author applied fiction in their work. The setting of the story also determined how the authors utilized the literary element. One of the similarities identified in both short stories is that the authors used fiction to represent the wicked activities of the people in their lives. Despite the similarities, the two analyzed short stories portrayed a lot of differences depending on their main themes. Both O'Connor fiction to represent Christianity and the inability of the main characters to trust in God. According to Updike, the belief that men are superior to women are identified unlike in O'Connor's short story whereby superiority is based on racial groups and social classes (Updike, 34). The second difference is based on how the authors describe the personalities of the characters. O'Connor emphasizes that Mrs. Turpin was arrogant, judgemental, and spiritual; therefore, creating some contradictions. The complexity of Mrs. Turpin's personality and character makes it difficult for other people to understand her position in life (O'Connor, 12). On the other hand, the Updike emphasizes on how life changed the personality and character traits of David.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the analysis of the short stories, "Revelation" and Pigeon "Feathers" enables readers to identify how different writers use literary components in their work. The ability of O'Connor and Updike to use fiction differently in their short stories depends on their writing experiences and skills. The setting and desired themes of a story also determine how the fiction and other elements. O'Connor's short story, "Revelation" is developed through the inspirations of the author to promote equality in society and prevent racial discrimination. Updike's short story, "Pigeon Feathers" is developed as a result of the changes that normally occur in the lives of human beings.

Works Cited

O'Connor, Flannery. 'Everything that rises must converge'. Macmillan, 1965. Retrieved from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=Revelation+From%2C+Everything+That+Rises+Must+Converge+By+Flannery+O%E2%80%99Connor&btnG=

Updike, John. 'Pigeon feathers: and other stories'. Random House, 2012. Retrieved from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=John+Updike++Pigeon+Feathers&btnG=#d=gs_cit&u=%2Fscholar%3Fq%3Dinfo%3A36-3ovSHCY8J%3Ascholar.google.com%2F%26output%3Dcite%26scirp%3D0%26hl%3Den