"The River" topics

In re-reading "The River," especially in conjunction with the research I've done for my paper, I've discovered some interesting things that I didn't notice the first time around.

1. I'm looking at the significance of the manner of violence O'Connor utilizes, as it always appears to be deliberate, not random. In the case of Harry/Bevel Ashfield the drowning, like that in "The Violent Bear it Away," represents baptism.

That's no big surprise, as O'Connor makes that pretty clear in the text. But the harshness of it is seen in a new light after learning of her purpose. To get her message across, she felt she needed to shock her readers. In "Return to Good and Evil," Henry Edmonson cites a quote from Southern writer Walker Percy, who said of this, "How else can one possibly write of a baptism as an event of immense significance when baptism is already accepted but accepted by and large as a minor tribal rite somewhat secondary to taking the kids to see Santa at the department store?"

From this perspective, O'Connor needed to enhance the level of violence in her story to get people to think of this rite in old-school terms. This certainly gives it "immense significance."

2. The role of Mr. Paradise. At first read, I believed him to be the voice of reason, speaking out while the others were hoodwinked by a religious con man. His role in Harry/Bevel's death was meant to be ironic. While I personally still view him as the voice of reason in this tale, I see now that this what not O'Connor's intention. I think he serves as a secular vehicle for salvation. He came to the child with candy, not a Bible, and--ostensibly through his secular pronouncements, at least symbolically--delivers the child to grace.

3. Edmondson posited an interesting theory in his book: O'Connor introduces pivotal scenes in her stories by taking account of the landscape. In "The River," I believe this takes place on page 162, when they're listening to the preacher:

"While he preached, Bevel's eyes followed drowsily the slow circles of two silent birds revolving high in the air. Across the river there was a low red and gold grove of sassafras with hills of dark blue trees behind it and an occasional pine jutting over the skyline. Behind, in the distance, the city rose like a cluster of warts on the side of the mountain. The birds revolved downward and dropped lightly in the top of the highest pine and sat hunch-shouldered as if they were supporting the sky."