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


Explain why McGovern sees lupus as important to understanding O'Connor's work.

1 answer

McGovern views lupus as a significant element for understanding Flannery O'Connor's work because it serves as both a personal and thematic lens through which her literature can be interpreted. O'Connor suffered from lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, which not only impacted her life and health but also influenced her worldview and artistic expression.

The disease often led O'Connor to grapple with themes of suffering, mortality, and the human condition, which are prevalent in her stories. McGovern argues that the physical pain and limitations imposed by lupus can be seen as mirrored in O'Connor's characters, who frequently face spiritual and ethical dilemmas. This connection suggests that the struggle with illness may have deepened her exploration of existential questions and the complexities of faith.

Furthermore, lupus's unpredictability and the way it forced O'Connor to confront her own fragility may have contributed to her distinctive narrative style—marked by dark humor, irony, and a sense of the grotesque—all integral to conveying the deeper moral and philosophical inquiries in her work. Thus, understanding O'Connor's experience with lupus provides critical insights into her motivations as a writer and the thematic richness of her stories.