Displaced Jesus

Like many of O'Connor's other short stories, the Biblical allusions were especially striking to me in "The Displaced Person". Mr. Guizac plays the role of a modern Jesus throughout the story, which is particularly evident in the end, when it is his innocence and naivety that makes him an outsider, and ultimately leads to his death. Also, he is a "carpenter", so the connection here is undeniable! In my opinion, the priest played a minor part in the plot of the story, other than to emphasize the purity of Mr. Guizac through juxtaposition: while the priest should ideally represent holiness on earth, he demonstrates a deluded sense of religion. While he is religious, he is far from spiritual, and his detachment from Jesus and the true meaning of God is evident. (I will get into this more, when I discuss the peacock as a religious symbol) Unlike Father Flynn, who demonstrates his faith through pious speeches and his appearance, Mr. Guizac exudes holiness. His integrity, like when he tells Mrs. McIntyre about the stolen turkey, and his comical appearance made him an even more appealing character and someone whom I came to respect.
O'Connor's portrayal of her modern-day Jesus was refreshing to me simply because he was realistic and easier to relate to; it seems very rare that an author humanizes a Jesus figure in their literature, and Mr. Guizac therefore is more believable and carries a strong symbolic significance. She describes Mr. Guizac as "shaped like a peanut", and socially awkward in the eyes of American society; many Catholics could consider this depiction of Christ as blasphemous, and it's surprising that O'Connor would portray him as vulnerable, dislikeable, and weak. To his observers, Guizac is a pathetic character, and his appearances enable others to look past his better qualities. O'Connor seems to be playing with the dichotomy of appearances and essence: I argue this through juxtaposing the Pole and the peacock, who also symbolizes a religious character, and whose fate is also determined by its appearance. The peacock, when it is first introduced, is "like a miniature god". Father Flynn is left awe-struck by its beauty, and remarks that, "Christ will come like that", as he watches its feathers unfold before him. In religious iconography, the peacock is associated with "the Transfiguration", which the Father alludes to. Unlike Mr. Guizac, whose personality makes him a symbol of Christ, the peacock is ultimately revered by the Father because of its appearance. This struck me as extremely ironic, because O'Connor is careful to emphasize that, although beautiful, it was extremely annoying and dirty. Their contrasting fates can also be attributed to their differing appearances: while Mr. Guizac dies tragically, the peacock is able to live its life being cared for by Father Flynn. It is his appearance, its "glittering green-gold and blue" feathers that ultimately save its life.
I feel that O'Connor is exploring the dichotomy of seeming vs. being in order to comment on racism. The peacock is privileged because it appears holy; while Mr. Guizac is the Christlike figure, his unusual demeanor, accent, and exterior prevents others from seeing his remarkable qualities. It is also set after World War II, when issues of racism and appearance were at the front debates. By making her Christ figure believable, and therefore perfection attainable, she is also commenting on how tragic racism is. She reveals that it is ultimately our fears of something that is different and "ugly", and not their actions, that often separate the revered from the crucified.