Stairs

I agree with all of the posts so far that have found the stories to be extremely similar. While I found the story topic interesting, once was probably enough.

That said, there is one particular aspect of the two stories that really struck me: the significance of the stairs.

In a very literal sense, the stairs are an impediment for both Tanner and Old Dudley, who are physically challenged by their age. Their sense of displacement and powerlessness is enhanced by the stairways that keep them prisoners in their daughters' high-rise apartments.

But more significantly, I think O'Connor utilizes the stairs another way. As an archetype, stairs represent transition or change, moving from one phase to another. On one hand, this can represent Tanner and Old Dudley's moves to New York from the South. But more significantly, I think the stairs represent the transition from one era to another culturally speaking.

Tanner and Old Dudley have lived with a particular world view of race. Not only is race viewed differently in New York, but the times themselves are changing. Tanner and Old Dudley can't believe they live in a time and place where African-Americans live next door to their white daughters. Both are ill-equipped to change with the times, and each attempt unsuccessfully to reconcile their circumstance with their outdated world view.

It's no accident that O'Connor brought both Tanner and Old Dudley to their moment of reckoning on the stairs. Neither could maintain their footing in this new world with their old ideas. Their attempts to do so led to costly falls.

"The Geranium" in particular makes great references to this:

"You better be careful," the negro said. "You could easily hurt yourself on these steps." (710)

The steps dropped down like a deep wound in the floor... He wouldn't go down and have niggers pattin' him on the back. (712)