Analysis Of Mrs. Ruby Turpin In Flannery O Connor's Revelation

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Some people may see themselves as a great person, but in reality, that is not what they are. An example of this can be found in a short story by Flannery O' Connor called "Revelation". The story is set in the south after the Civil War. The character, Mrs. Ruby Turpin, seems to be unaware of her personality until her moment of clarity in the pig parlor. At that moment, she is able to see past her narrow view and sees a glimpse into the afterlife. Before the pig parlor, she had this massive ego. O’ Connor emphasizes on how huge Mrs. Turpin was and that could possibly be a symbolism for how huge her ego really was. O’ Connor did so by saying, “… Mrs. Turpin, who was very large, made it look even smaller by her presence.” She is large, with bright black eyes, with good skin, and well dressed. Mrs. Turpin, from “Revelation” by Flannery O’Connor, has arrogant, judgmental, and bossy are her actual character traits then what she sees herself as. Ruby Turpin sees herself as a very privileged person, but she is really just being arrogant. She sees herself as above the “White trash” and the “Negros”. She would occupy herself by trying to decide whom she …show more content…

Turpin also has a bossy character trait along with her arrogance and judgmental. She seems to be mainly bossy towards her husband named Claud. For example, when they first get to the doctor's office she tells him where to sit and pushed him down into it. O' Connor states, "[…] but he sat down as if he were accustomed to doing what she told him to do," making it clear that she frequently tells him what to do. Another example of this is Ruby saying, "Gimmie that hose. Go on and carry them, niggers, home and then get off that leg (442).” She was not only bossy to Claud but to the doctor when he was trying to take a look at her neck. For instance, she was saying angrily for him to let her be and to check on Claud. She likes to be in control and above all, which is why she bosses Claud around a lot, as well as the

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