"Everything That Rises Must Converge" Analysis

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Flannery O’Connor outdoes herself in her short story “Everything That Rises Must Converge”. This story has a title that, at first, does not make sense, making the reader want to learn more. On top of that, the title portrays what the point of the story is and helps the reader to understand the major theme of the story, while using symbols and other methods to further illustrate the lesson. Through the title and the underlying theme, Flannery O’Connor shows the struggles between generations and society in her short story “Everything That Rises Must Converge”. The title of this short story has more depth than one might originally think. After reading the story, the reader can decipher what the title means. The short story is told in a time that blacks are rising in power and are becoming equals to whites. With the rise of power with the blacks, whites must change their ways to allow this to happen. White people are not able to pretend that the rise of power of blacks is not happening. They must not lie in the past. The title “Everything That Rises Must Converge” explains that not only should people recognise the rise of blacks, but whites must converge with them in order to live together peacefully. Julian’s mother, in the story, says, “It’s ridiculous. It’s simply not realistic. They should rise, yes, but on their own side of the fence (pg. 325).” This is a prime example of how Flannery O’Connor shows the struggles between whites and blacks; how whites were not sanctioning blacks to rise to become equals with whites, but rather on their own. The title of this short story is not only describes what the short story is about, but also the major theme of it. A major theme of this short story is the struggles between generations and s... ... middle of paper ... ...ns, symbols, themes, and a title that makes the reader think twice. The title of this story states that everything, which refers to blacks, are rising in power and must converge, come together, with whites in order to function in society. The title is not just the basis of the story, but also connects to the major theme of the work. The struggles between generations and society is present throughout the entire story. Conflicts between Julian and his mother, as well as conflicts between blacks and whites in society. Through the title and the underlying theme, Flannery O’Connor shows the struggles between generations and society in her short story “Everything That Rises Must Converge”. This story has a title that does not make sense to the reader until they have read the story, making it a perfect attention grabber and way of showing the underlying point of the story.

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