The following question is based on your reading of the literary critique of Flannery O’Connor.

Question

"Flannery must have been lonely, for she rarely had visitors to Andalusia and had very few friends. Her debilitating illness was probably a major part of her separating from others to lead such an isolated existence. Possibly embarrassed and humble, not wanting sympathy because of her disease, she kept others away. One can see why she wrote about the handicapped: the physically or mentally impaired. Most likely it was a theme that personally resonated for her."

Identify McGovern's opinions in this passage.

Answer 1

In the passage, McGovern expresses several opinions about Flannery O'Connor's life and writing, including:

1. Loneliness: McGovern believes that O’Connor must have been lonely due to the rarity of visitors to her home in Andalusia and her lack of friends.

2. Isolation due to illness: He suggests that O'Connor's debilitating illness contributed significantly to her isolated existence, implying that her health issues played a major role in her social interactions.

3. Embarrassment and humility: McGovern posits that O’Connor may have felt embarrassed or humble about her illness, which led her to keep others at a distance.

4. Connection to her themes: Lastly, he implies that themes related to disability, both physical and mental, resonated deeply with O'Connor personally, suggesting that her own experiences influenced her literary focus.

Overall, McGovern's opinions paint a picture of O'Connor as a complex individual whose personal struggles directly impacted her writing.