Turpin's Epiphany In Revelation By Flannery O Connor

Ruby Turpin is wealthy woman from the 1960s who experiences an epiphany in the short story “Revelation,” by Flannery O’Connor. The author was raised in the southern part of America and discusses the south and its unique flavor of life in her story. At this time, Martin Luther King Jr. had led the Civil Rights Movement and blacks and whites had to be treated equally. In the south, many whites found it difficult to adhere to these rules, and racial discrimination was still common. This theme is presented in the story as well as the social discrimination between the wealthy and the poor. The story begins with Ruby Turnip, who is at the doctor’s office with her husband Claude. In the first few minutes of being there, she puts each person through a list of qualities. She finds that she is above all of the people who are waiting to see the doctor. All of the people are strangers, but Ruby easily categorizes them into social class …show more content…
She exclaimed “Thank you, Jesus, for making everything the way it is!” As soon as Ruby says this, Mary Grace throws a book about Human Development at Ruby, which “struck her directly over her left eye.” Mary Grace could not stand Ruby and her arrogance and throws her book at her head. This is ironic because this is exactly what Ruby needs to develop—more humanity. Going more into depth, Mary Grace’s name has significance in the novel. Mary, who is the mother of Jesus, and Grace, which is what everyone wants from God, pronounce what Ruby Turpin lacks, and Mary Grace tells her what she is: a wart hog from hell. This event eventually leads Ruby to her revelation. When she was isolated, she was forced to look at herself both outwardly and at her inner being, which led her to finding her revelation. At this moment she realizes that she was not always a good person and that her worldview is inconsistent with