Set in the South, “Revelation” is a short story by Flannery O’Connor that features a woman, Mrs. Turpin, who frequently casts judgements on others based on race or socioeconomic status and even explores the idea of social stratification, whose moral superiority is challenged and eventually addressed by a divine encounter. Targeting two specific audiences, southerners against civil rights and those who support civil rights, in order to promote the theme that long-held beliefs and justifications for racially and economically-based hierarchies are worth nothing when considering that everyone is equally created by God, O’Connor uses Mrs. Turpin’s inner thoughts and attitudes about others to create a more believable and human representation of the
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No matter how “commonly held” or traditional attitudes may be at the current time in society, all people are equal in the eyes of God. Considering her message was obviously directed at segregation, considering it was published at the height of the Civil Rights movement in America, appealing to people on both sides of the civil rights movement allowed her to evoke two messages with one story. To those against civil rights, the story builds them up just to rebuke them on a divine level, while those who support civil rights continually build up disdain for Turpin’s character, and by extension her ideology, but eventually are allowed to breathe a sigh of relief as she rationalizes her own thoughts. In a way, it became an argument against those who did not support equality, but it was also affirmed the beliefs of those who fought for civil rights. As a call to recognize the humanity in all people, the story was meant to ease the division that was ravaging the country. It was timely then, but many could argue that it is a continual battle, especially today. With people dehumanizing those they do not agree with politically, our society’s current state is just an example of how O’Connor’s encouragement, which was to see people as more than just what they are on the surface but rather as equal, divine creations, is always an ideal that society should be striving
No matter how “commonly held” or traditional attitudes may be at the current time in society, all people are equal in the eyes of God. Considering her message was obviously directed at segregation, considering it was published at the height of the Civil Rights movement in America, appealing to people on both sides of the civil rights movement allowed her to evoke two messages with one story. To those against civil rights, the story builds them up just to rebuke them on a divine level, while those who support civil rights continually build up disdain for Turpin’s character, and by extension her ideology, but eventually are allowed to breathe a sigh of relief as she rationalizes her own thoughts. In a way, it became an argument against those who did not support equality, but it was also affirmed the beliefs of those who fought for civil rights. As a call to recognize the humanity in all people, the story was meant to ease the division that was ravaging the country. It was timely then, but many could argue that it is a continual battle, especially today. With people dehumanizing those they do not agree with politically, our society’s current state is just an example of how O’Connor’s encouragement, which was to see people as more than just what they are on the surface but rather as equal, divine creations, is always an ideal that society should be striving