Abstract

It has been widely considered that Flannery O’Connor is the prophet in the American Southern literature. Being a devout Catholic writer, she endows her works with abundant religious characteristics, and makes sin and redemption as the main theme. Hence this thesis takes the two main themes from the Bible---the sin and the redemption----as the point of penetration, and combines her family background and the social background to illustrate her point of religion. The sins and sinners in A Good Man is Hard to Find will be interpreted in a detailed way, and the essence of violence and death----redemption and rebirth will be revealed. This thesis consists of mainly four chapters. Chapter one explains the religion-related terms like the religion, sin and redemption. Under the influence of her family background and the social background, the formation of O’Connor’s point of religion is analyzed elaborately in chapter two. Based on the exploration of three typical sinners and their sins in chapter three, chapter four emphasizes the religious redemption and rebirth behind the violence and death. 

Keywords : A Good Man Is Hard To Find; religion; sins; redemption

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction1

2.The religion-related terms in A Good Man Is Hard To Find1

2.1The definition of religion.2

2.2The definition of sin..2

2.3The definition of redemption.3

3. The formation of O’Connor’s religious views...4

3.1 Her family background..4

3.2 The social background.5

4. The various sins from the loss of faith.6

4.1 The sin of selfishness in the decomposed family relationship..6

4.2 The sin of pride in the changing social relationship8

4.3 The sin of faithlessness in the spiritual wasteland.9

5. The redemption under violence and death10

5.1 The grace under baptism of violence.11

5.2 The rebirth after death.12

6. Conclusion13

References15