The Grotesque theme used in stories is one that causes the reader to react and take the step towards a deeper thinking. The idea of Grotesque in writing is somewhere in-between comedy and frightening. Grotesqueness can be something as simple as a story about a misshapen man to a story about a man’s fall to a state psychological terror. In the case of grotesque stories with a goal of terror the events of the story can be seen as unthinkable, disgusting, and confusing in a way of distortion for the reader. Authors accomplish this through their precise word choice, and use of ideas and symbolism that for many people comes across as shocking and cause a reaction. In all stories with the grotesque theme being one that is supposed to insight fear, the reader is supposed to feel uncomfortable,
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Many things can make a story grotesque, but one of the things that have the most effect on the reader are the unthinkable actions. In Flannery O’Conner’s grotesque short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find the grotesqueness is shown through an action all people would see as unthinkable. The action that occurred is when an old woman, “reached out to touch a man on the shoulder. He sprang back as if a snake had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest.” (O’Conner 10/11) The idea of a man killing an unarmed old woman for the reason she tried to touch him is something most people would find an evil action they could never picture happening, and that is exactly what makes it fall under the grotesque theme it beings something almost unbearable to think about. Additionally, O’Conner used the idea of the woman reaching out to the man to show she was trying to connect with and comfort him like a mother would for a child. Through this when the man kills her it causes a reaction of confusion and terror due to her attempted love being met with the man’s violent act. This all fits under the grotesque theme as O’Conner takes
Many things can make a story grotesque, but one of the things that have the most effect on the reader are the unthinkable actions. In Flannery O’Conner’s grotesque short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find the grotesqueness is shown through an action all people would see as unthinkable. The action that occurred is when an old woman, “reached out to touch a man on the shoulder. He sprang back as if a snake had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest.” (O’Conner 10/11) The idea of a man killing an unarmed old woman for the reason she tried to touch him is something most people would find an evil action they could never picture happening, and that is exactly what makes it fall under the grotesque theme it beings something almost unbearable to think about. Additionally, O’Conner used the idea of the woman reaching out to the man to show she was trying to connect with and comfort him like a mother would for a child. Through this when the man kills her it causes a reaction of confusion and terror due to her attempted love being met with the man’s violent act. This all fits under the grotesque theme as O’Conner takes