Research Paper in American Literature: Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor

Throughout the book, the main protagonist Hazel believes that Jesus did not exist. Characterized by his words, I AM clean. If Jesus existed, I wouldnt be clean (OConnor, 87), he believes that if Jesus existed, he would be too sinful to enter heaven. Hazel believed in Jesus as a child, but something changed when he joined the army. His journey to salvation starts before he joins the army when he wants to be a preacher just like his grandfather. He returns from war to find himself surrounded by symbols and signs of the religion he lost by the has a different point of view. Hazel cannot escape signs of religion in the streets from a con artist to a potato peeler. The man is putting skinned potatoes in a potato peeler that after that come out unpeeled symbolizes water turning into wine. OConnor uses the character, Hazel, to symbolize the journey to salvation using an archetype of his war experience when he loses his religious belief to the point he returns to it (Srigley 97).

The author also uses symbolism to remind his audience of the constant struggle between good and evil in Hazels trip to Taulkinham as he continually denies Christ. The battle between the forces of good and evil happen within him. He sleeps with a prostitute upon his arrival in Taulkinham as he tries to prove to himself that he does not believe in anything. Upon seeing signs of Christ, he starts a Church without Christ that he claims to be devoid of sin. The author uses Solace Layfield to symbolize the remaining part of Hazels consciousness and conscience (Giannone 62). As he transitions from being a Nihilist to a Christian, he does not want to salvage Solace, the symbol of his association with Nihilist part. Deciding to rid himself of sin, Hazel runs over Solace with his car. As hes dying, Solace utters the words, Jesus help me (O'Connor 207), symbolizing the coming back to Jesus by Hazels Nihilist side in the end. The main character, Hazel then pushes his car off a cliff to symbolize the death of his anti-God church, Church without Christ. The death of solace and the pushing of the car off a cliff represents a new birth of the now born again Hazel, a staunch follower of God.

OConnor uses Hazels hat to symbolize a sign of his outsider status in the city. The hat is consistently described as fierce that leads many to believe that he is a preacher. He, later on, buys himself a new white hat, symbolizing his new beginning with his new church, the Church without Christ while still signaling him for an outsider (Telgen and Hile 330). Hazels wearing of the hat also symbolizes his spiritual calling, which OConnor uses to contrast him with other characters around him. Hazels broken down car that he purchased for forty dollars symbolizes his home, a place that he can call his own and retreat to when everyone around him frustrates him (Srigley 94). It also symbolizes free will that the mobility of the car brings with it. Hazel has the free will to go wherever he chooses as he tries to escape his religious destiny. Throughout the book, coffins recur symbolizing death. OConnor uses blood to symbolize the notion of sin and salvation that Hazel rejects. However, OConnor uses blood to symbolize the instinctive voice driving Enoch by alluding that he has wise blood that he inherited from his father.

The author uses realism throughout the book to pass messages desired. Hazel realizes one of the core values of Christianity; the omnipresence of God when he tries to deny Jesus only to realize that He is watching him (Huston and Dourif 29). From the beginning of the book, the author narrates Hazels story in a manner that is similar to real life struggles of an average Christian. The spiritual struggles that Hazel goes through are similar to ones that Christian faithful go through. Hazels quest to do something that no one has done before shows his level of purpose, desire to develop personally and engage in lifes bigger questions. Convicted Christians that offer their lives to the service of the religion have the same level of dedication to their cause and beliefs. The introduction of a diverse mix of characters; prostitute, con artists and loyal friends are a true reflection of the world as it is. The author uses realism to bring a sense of everyday realities into the story.

On arrival at Taulkinham, the author sets the author upon a city that he is not accustomed to. Hazel is from a seemingly rural town and is overwhelmed by the new world in the city. Hazel comes off as a lonely character who desires connection in the new city that he moves to. His encounter with OConnors other characters brings a sense of mystery and anticipation. The new characters such as Enoch, Asa, and Sabbath diversify the character base of the story and bring new life into Hazels journey (Telgen and Hile 323). The plot quickly develops with the change in setting that Hazel finds himself in.

The author also uses irony when he introduces a blind preacher by the name of Asa Hawks. Ironically named after a bird revered for its vision, he goes around town recruiting people to join his church that does not exist. He does this to earn pity from people. In Hazels first visit to Mrs. Leora, she refers herself as Momma in an ironic way that points to parts of his life that he misses; his home and his mother (May 78).

The author also uses imagery to advance the storys plot. Hazel arrives in Taulkinham to be overwhelmed by the urban panoply in the citys streets (O'Connor 25). The image created by the authors description of the signs and lights alludes to an alienating and jarring experience. Imagery also emerges as Hazel preaches about his church in a movie theatre. The lights around the theater are so bright that the moons light cannot match it this image represents the extent to which religious world is concealed by the secular world.

O'Connor also uses allegory in concluding the story with Hazels death. His death is masked as an ending, but in real sense, it is a beginning. Having reached salvation that many yearn for by taking a spiritual journey, Hazel is at peace with his spirituality at death. When he is taken to Mrs. Floods house after his death, she tells his corpse that he has finally returned home, not knowing that he is dead. The author brings out the meaning that Hazel has finally settled in his eternal life.

Characterization in the book builds on the overall plot development in an enlightening way. The author uses different characters to expand and build on deferent themes that they are trying to build on. Hazel, the main character travels to Taulkinham after returning from war with the aim of starting a new life (Tracy and OConnor 30). Having seen traumatizing things in the war, he lost all hope in Christianity and became an atheist. Experiencing a religious crisis, he forms his church away from Christianity and not involving God. His crisis ending with violence, murder and his death, the author centers Hazels goals, aspirations and experiences in the story on other characters roles.

Mrs. Leora Watts, a prostitute that Hazel sleeps with, is used by the author to develop the storys plot and theme of female sexuality. The moral message the author passes through Mrs. Watts also shows the conviction with which Hazel had to denounce Christianity. Asa Hawks, a conman that pretends to be blind to profit from preaching with his daughter also advances OConnors plot in the book (Giannone 60). His daughter, Sabbath Lilly is a daring, sexually forthright girl that takes a keen interest in Hazel especially after her father runs away. Onnie Jay Holy, who later changes his name to Hoover Shoats, is a conman who tries to join Hazel in his anti-Christian endeavor but is rejected. He, later on, tries to run Hazel out of business by competing with him. The author uses Shoats to bring in conflict in the plot. Solace Layfield, a sickly man that is recruited by Shoats be an imposter of Hazel. He contributes to the plot of Hazels story but ends up dead as he is killed by Hazel.

Works Cited

Giannone, Richard. "Wise blood." Flannery O'Connor, Hermit Novelist. Urbana: U of Illinois, 2000. 60-66. Print.

Huston, John, and Brad Dourif. Wise Blood. 3rd ed., 2014.

May, Charles E. Flannery O'connor. 2nd ed., Salem P, 2012.

O'Connor, Flannery. Wise Blood. 2015.

Srigley, Susan. "Penance And Love In Wise Blood: Seeing Redemption?" Flannery O'connorReview 7 (2009): 94-100. Literary Reference Center. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.

"Tracy Jamison Flannery O'connor&The Representation Of Mystery." New Oxford Review 77.6 (2010): 28-31. Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

"Wise Blood." Novels for Students. Ed. Diane Telgen and Kevin Hile. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale,1998.321-343. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 28 Nov. 2015.