Confession can be a source of relief or a source of remorse depending on a person's point of view. In the short story titled “First Confession,” by Frank O'Connor, the main character has a change in attitude about what confession means to him, and the other characters around him through different points of view. Thomas Foster’s book, How To Read Literature Like a Professor, can be seen through any and all of the aspects that are going to be brought into the different points within Frank O’Connor’s short story, and the different characters points of view. This story is written in first person, but includes the points of view of the other characters in the story. This short story states the importance of the point of view that someone is seeing
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Nora thinks that if someone makes a big sin and confesses about it then that person is going to receive a rather large punishment. Nora believes that if someone has committed a terrible sin then they are sent to see the Bishop rather than the Priest. “I don’t know what he’ll do with you at all, Jackie. He might have to send you up to the Bishop” (O’Connor 332). Nora is very angry when Jackie’s only punishment is three hail Marys instead of a punishment much worse, such as death by a rope. In the last sentence of the story Nora says that she does not need to be good anymore, but that she just needs to have good luck. “Some people have all the luck! ‘Tis no advantage to anybody trying to be good. I might as well be a sinner like you” (O’Connor 336). In Thomas Foster’s book, How To Read Literature Like a Professor chapter 14, “Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too,” talks about what a person must be like in order to be considered a Christ figure (123). Grandma could be considered a Christ figure from Nora’s point of view. It all depends on how the reader looks at the story. Grandma could be a Christ figure in Nora’s eyes because every week on Friday Grandma give Nora a penny. Giving Nora a penny could make Grandma a Christ figure because she is giving to those who do not have enough, and she is sharing what little she has for herself, just like Christ did when he was on the earth. From …show more content…
The reader may choose which character’s point of view they would like to believe or follow. The point of view in this short story is first person, but it also brings in many other characters points of view within the first person point of view. Frank O’Connor brought in a couple of different points and aspects that are found in Foster’s book, How To Read Literature Like a Professor, such as: “Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too,” and, “Don’t Read With Your Eyes.” Frank O’Connor includes these through the eyes of the characters in his short story. Throughout the entire short story the reader comes to understand and realize that not every person has the same perspective as another person does on the same subject, even if they are related in one way or another. It is up to the reader whether or not they believe confession is a good thing or a bad
Nora thinks that if someone makes a big sin and confesses about it then that person is going to receive a rather large punishment. Nora believes that if someone has committed a terrible sin then they are sent to see the Bishop rather than the Priest. “I don’t know what he’ll do with you at all, Jackie. He might have to send you up to the Bishop” (O’Connor 332). Nora is very angry when Jackie’s only punishment is three hail Marys instead of a punishment much worse, such as death by a rope. In the last sentence of the story Nora says that she does not need to be good anymore, but that she just needs to have good luck. “Some people have all the luck! ‘Tis no advantage to anybody trying to be good. I might as well be a sinner like you” (O’Connor 336). In Thomas Foster’s book, How To Read Literature Like a Professor chapter 14, “Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too,” talks about what a person must be like in order to be considered a Christ figure (123). Grandma could be considered a Christ figure from Nora’s point of view. It all depends on how the reader looks at the story. Grandma could be a Christ figure in Nora’s eyes because every week on Friday Grandma give Nora a penny. Giving Nora a penny could make Grandma a Christ figure because she is giving to those who do not have enough, and she is sharing what little she has for herself, just like Christ did when he was on the earth. From …show more content…
The reader may choose which character’s point of view they would like to believe or follow. The point of view in this short story is first person, but it also brings in many other characters points of view within the first person point of view. Frank O’Connor brought in a couple of different points and aspects that are found in Foster’s book, How To Read Literature Like a Professor, such as: “Yes, She’s a Christ Figure, Too,” and, “Don’t Read With Your Eyes.” Frank O’Connor includes these through the eyes of the characters in his short story. Throughout the entire short story the reader comes to understand and realize that not every person has the same perspective as another person does on the same subject, even if they are related in one way or another. It is up to the reader whether or not they believe confession is a good thing or a bad