“Flannery O’Connor.” Contemporary Literary Criticism. Web. 6 June 2010.
Flannery O’Connor also known as Mary Flannery O’Connor was thought to be “one of the foremost short story writers in American literature.” O’Connor wrote stories about what she knew best, religion, often portraying her characters in a “spiritually or physically grotesque” way. Many of her stories are about the main character having to find faith after a horrible tragedy has occurred in their life. While she has been praised for her creative imagination her vivid portrayal of characters is often received with mixed reviews. She wrote thirty-one short stories all which have gone on to receive critical acclaim. Growing up in the South with a devoutly Roman Catholic family helped shape her beliefs and writing style. Her father had terminal lupus which she later inherited and eventually lost her life to at the young age of 39.
Folks, Jeffrey J. “The Mechanical in Everything That Rises Must Converge.” The Southern Literary Journal XVIII 1986: 14-26. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Web. 6 June 2010.
Folk argues that O’Connor constantly struggles an internal battle “between traditionalist and modern.” He covers Everything That Rises Most Converge and seems to think that O’Connor doesn’t have enough of a background in natural and social science to be writing about the topics at hand. His views are very biased and do not depict the true underlying meaning to her stories. Folk has a lengthy critique of O'Connor's lack of true theological meaning in her work. In addition, he is points out that O'Connor seems to have limited herself to one genre and tends to be very vague in her writings. Although Folk offers several interesting, and possibly valid points, he does seem to focus on O'Connor's use of science in her writing rather than how she develops her characters. A novice reader of O'Connor may agree with what Folk asserts, however, a closer reading of her works will prove otherwise....