Tortured Artist in the Enduring Chill

In O'Conner's "The Enduring Chill," the main character Asbury has to return home due to an illness which he believes is going to be the death of him. Within "The Enduring Chill," the relationship between Asbury and his mother is developed, however Asbury is very vague to why he continuously goes against his mother's will. Asbury consistently tries to defy his mother every opportunity he gets. Asbury seems to get a rise out of contradicting his mother like when he gets Randall and Morgan to smoke and then he tries to get them to drink the milk for many days in a row. Asbury even hurts himself by drinking unpasterized milk to try to get the "Negros" to defy his mother with him. Asbury even writes a letter for his mother to read as soon as he passes away which he says will be a private way and getting to her rather than him killing himself which would be public. So I am just curious to why Asbury seems to have such disgust for his mother especially when all she does is try to take care of him and please him?

I also thought it was interesting that Asbury is so determined that he is going to die but he does not try to get better he just accepts the fact and refuses doctors and going to the hospital even though it might help. This goes along with the themes in O'Conner and Porter's stories as the disabled or sick person whom becomes completely absorbed in their own pity for themselves. Also the fact that Asbury is an artist is another way that the themes are similar the tortured artist whom just wants to die and does not really produce any creativity and is completely obsessed with their own self pity. I think this goes along with how his mother treat him because she gives him pity maybe to much too and he pretends to despise this but he feeds off of his mother's attitude toward him.