The South and the Grotesque: Flannery O’Connor’s ‘Twisted’ Characters

Abstract

The objective of this article is to research the grotesque undertones of American South, investigate the grotesque characters in Flannery O’Connor’s (1925-1964) short fiction based on Wolfgang Kayser’s (1906-1960) typology and accordingly reveal their affinities with the phenomenon of violence. The distinctive qualities of the South infuse all aspects of southern literature that is mostly notable for its perennial emphasis upon the grotesque. As a significant southern writer, O’Connor also employs grotesque characters in her fiction. O’Connor’s characters emanate grotesque singularities in three different manners; corporeal malformation, intellectual incongruity and behavioural degeneration. These three motives for the grotesque are analyzed through three short stories in this article: “Parker’s Back,” “The Comforts of Home” and “The Partridge Festival.”

Keywords

• American South
• The Grotesque
• Wolfgang Kayser
• Flannery O’Connor

Güney ve Grotesk: Flannery O’Connor’ın ‘Çarpık’ Karakterleri

Abstract

Bu makalenin amacı Amerikan Güney’inin grotesk çağrışımlarını araştırmak, Wolfgang Kayser’in (1906-1960) tiplemeleri temelinde Flannery O’Connor’ın (1925-1964) kısa öykülerindeki grotesk karakterleri incelemek ve buna bağlı olarak bu karakterlerin şiddet olgusuyla ilişkilerini ortaya koymaktır. Güney’in kendine özgü özellikleri çoğunlukla sürekli olarak grotesk vurgusu yapmasıyla bilinen güney yazınının her alanına nüfuz etmiştir. Önemli bir güneyli yazar olarak O’Connor da kendi edebiyatında grotesk karakterlere yer vermiştir. O’Connor’ın karakterleri üç farklı şekilde grotesk özellik göstermektedirler; bedensel kusurluluk, düşünsel aykırılık ve davranışsal yozlaşma. Bu makalede, bahsi geçen üç grotesk kaynağı üç kısa öykü aracığıyla incelenmektedir: “Parker’s Back,” “The Comforts of Home” ve “The Partridge Festival.”

Keywords

• Amerikan Güneyi
• Grotesk
• Wolfgang Kayser
• Flannery O’Connor

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