The River Symbolism

The River- The Grace of God
Mary Flannery O’Connor was an American novelist who often wrote in a Southern Gothic style which relies on supernatural and ironic events. Her writing also reflects Roman Catholic faith which symbolizes the morality of right and wrong decisions. In general, O’Connor vision of grace in the stories described as appalling realization of characters which sometimes kills them. According to the short-story ‘’The River’’ where the protagonist achieves his grace in death, since he chooses to strive for salvation rather than live in the household with his parents. Specifically, the grace of God from this story, demonstrates the relationships of faith among Mr. Paradise, Harry, and Mrs. Connon. Grace is simplifies by…show more content…
Harry is described as "mute and patient, like an old sheep waiting to be let out."(25) The symbol of the sun is used to represent Christian faith: its reflection is "set like a diamond"(33) in the river where Harry is baptized. The personification of the sun enforces the idea that hope and faith overcome the darkness of sin and lack of faith. When Harry tells the preacher that his name is also Bevel, jokingly, the preacher's face is "rigid and his narrow gray eyes reflected the almost colorless sky,"(37) in this moment before Harry baptism. But when he is displeased, after Harry tells him that his mother is in fact only suffering from a hangover, "the sky appeared to darken in his eyes."(38) As Harry runs into the river to drown himself, "The sky was a clear pale blue, all in one piece - except for the hole the sun made - and fringed around the bottom with treetops." (45) Here, the sky represents Harry mentality: he is focused and determined, and the only thought in his mind is faith, represented by the…show more content…
Connin is Harry babysitter, who is ready and open to Grace as multiple comparison of skeleton:‘’ a speckled skeleton’’(23) when she was waiting for Harry in the morning, at the beginning of the story when she naps in the taxi ‘’she began to whistle and blow like a musical skeleton;’’(27) and when she realizes that Harry parents have no faith at all as she drops him back off at home, "Mrs. Connin stood a second, staring into the room, with a skeleton's appearance of seeing everything."(40) As she leads her own children and Harry to the healing, "they looked like the skeleton of an old boat with two pointed ends, sailing slowly on the edge of the highway." (31) Over the course of the day, Harry becomes more and more comfortable with Mrs. Connin and with the religion she represents. When she returns him to his parents at the end of the day, it is his mother who is only referred to as "she" which in this case represents Otherness, Harry has redefined himself as Bevel, and when his mother corrects Mrs. Connin, "she"(24) is emphasized her Otherness: ‘’His name is Harry,’’(39) she said from the sofa. ’’Whoever heard of anybody named Bevel?'’(39) which implies to a holy step toward Harry’s life.
In conclusion, the Grace of God is significant theme in this novel by comparison light of faith. Throughout the story the idea of violent and disruptive force affect the identification of the story itself. The powerful reality amuse the audience by Mrs.