Everything That Rises Must Converge Theme

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Recommended: The US civil rights movement

The story “Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor all began during the time of the Civil Rights Movement and desegregation. Julian’s mother was overweight and had high blood pressure. Her doctor wanted her to lose twenty pounds so Julian’s mother went to reducing classes at the Y every Wednesday night. Julian went with her because she didn’t like to ride the bus alone. When the bus arrived they got on and two other white women were seated. Their bus ride began with small talk between the women.Their conversation consisted of the heat, blacks riding the bus, and Julian graduating college plus his job. After a few minutes of driving a white lady got off and a black man got on. Julian rose and sat next to the man. Soon enough …show more content…

One of the biggest elements is the theme. The theme of the story is that no matter what your skin color is we are equal. This is demonstrated by that hat which is a symbol of equality. “The hat was new and had coster seven dollars and a half”(Graff, Birkenstein 273). “She had on a hideous hat. A purple velvet flap came down on one side of it and stood up on the other; the rest of it was green and looked like a cushion with the stuffing out”(Graff, Birkenstein 285). Julian’s mother bought a new hat and decided to wear it to her reducing class at the Y. Later on the bus Julian saw a women with the same hat as his mother. Julian 's mother who is white and the black woman on the bus were wearing the same hat which makes them equal. If a white woman can have a purple hat so can a black women. Back in 1619 slavery began in America. White’s owned black’s meaning that the black’s worked for the white’s. Then blacks were considered less than white’s, blake’s were a lot more poor than whites. When desegregation started in 1957, black’s and white’s were considered equal. Another element is setting. The setting of this story is written shortly after whites and blacks are desegregated. Julian’s mother is still stuck in the past. “‘Of course;she said,’ if you know who you are, you can go anywhere’”(Graff, Birkenstein 275). White’s were always higher up than black’s. If you didn’t interact with blacks and stick with your skin color people would treat you like you were higher up, hence the “you can go

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