O’Conner Digital Project

The Turkey
"He had a sudden fear one wouldn’t come; it was a whole fear quick. One will come, he told
himself. God was interested in him because he was a very unusual child."

[Psychoanalytic]

Reading this passage through a psychoanalytic lens, the passage reveals Ruller's inner turmoil
and conflicting emotions as he chases the turkey. His pursuit of the bird becomes a metaphor for
his internal struggle, representing his desire for validation, the need to prove himself, and the fear
of failure. The psychoanalytic lens helps uncover the psychological tensions driving Ruller's
actions and thoughts, offering insights into his deeper motivations and anxieties.

"He lifted the turkey up—it was heavy all right—and fitted it over his shoulder."

[Reader-Response Approach]

This approach allows us to focus on the reader's response or interpretation of the text. This
particular quote emphasizes the physicality and weight of the turkey, highlighting the burden
Ruller carries, both literally and symbolically. The reader's response to this moment might reflect
on the significance of this weight in the story, considering how it impacts Ruller's journey and
his perception of responsibility or achievement.

"He started off slowly, shifting the turkey until it fit comfortably over his shoulder."

[Feminist Approach]

This approach explores the portrayal of gender roles and dynamics within the story. In this quote,
the physical act of carrying the turkey, a traditionally masculine task in some contexts, could be
viewed through a feminist lens. Analyzing this action may prompt discussions about the
expectations placed on individuals based on their gender and how these roles are depicted or
challenged in the narrative.

The Train
"He turned away from the closet and looked at Haze and Haze saw his eyes and they were like;
they were the same—same as old Cash’s for the first instant, and then different. They turned
different while he was looking at them; hardened flat."

[Psychoanalytical]

This quote delves into Haze's subconscious associations and desires. It begins with Haze trying
to connect with the porter, hoping for a familiar link to someone from his past, like Cash. The
initial similarity he perceives in the porter's eyes to Cash's triggers an emotional response.
However, the abrupt change in the porter's demeanor, from similarity to difference, reflects
Haze's inner conflict and longing for connection, which quickly transforms into disappointment
and rejection. This swift shift in perception and emotion hints at Haze's unresolved internal
conflicts and desires, providing a glimpse into his complex psychological landscape. The passage
offers insight into Haze's internal struggles and emotional instability, reflecting a psychoanalytic
exploration of his inner world.

"He had eggs for supper. They were in the sponge in his throat. They were right in his throat. He
didn’t want to turn over for fear they would move; he wanted the light off; he wanted it dark."

[Psychoanalytical]

Haze's inner turmoil emerges vividly in this passage, the sensation of eggs choking him,
symbolizing the emotional weight of his past. His desire for darkness hints at an escape from
these overwhelming emotions. The portrayal dives deep into Haze's psyche, showcasing his
disconnection and yearning for connection, evidenced by his strained interactions. His struggle to
discuss his origins and the rejection he faces intensify his internal conflict, mirrored in the
suffocating imagery, emphasizing his isolation and inability to forge meaningful bonds due to
estrangement from his past and family.

A Stroke of Good Fortune

"Bill Hill takes care of that. Bill Hill takes care of that for five years! That ain’t going to happen
to me!"

[Gender Criticism]

This quote shows how Ruby relies on her husband for birth control and strongly denies the
chance of an unwanted pregnancy. It highlights the pressures on women about their role in
handling pregnancy and their fear of losing control over their bodies. The passage reveals Ruby's
challenges as a woman due to societal expectations, pressure about motherhood, and changes in
her body. Her talks with Laverne also reveal society's judgments and limitations on women,
showing how hard it is for women to be themselves beyond society's expectations. This approach
helps understand how society's views about gender affect Ruby and how society's ideas of being
female restrict women.

"Madam Zoleeda had told her but not before she knew it herself. Madam Zoleeda was the
palmist on Highway 87. She had said, 'A long illness,' but she had added, whispering, with a
very I-al-ready-know-but-I-won’t-tell look, 'It will bring you a stroke of good fortune!'"

[Psychoanalytic Criticism]

This quote, through Ruby's encounter with Madam Zoleeda, delves into the subconscious and
foreshadows Ruby's impending illness as a potential harbinger of good fortune. Psychoanalytic
Criticism allows an exploration of characters' unconscious motivations and desires, revealing
deeper layers of meaning in their actions and experiences. Here, Ruby's inner conflicts and fears
manifest through her interactions, hinting at a broader psychological significance beyond her
immediate physical challenges.
A Good Man is Hard to Find
"The Misfit sneered slightly. 'Nobody had nothing I wanted,' he said. 'It's just one time I set there
and thought I hate it and I don't know why I don't just go to work and kill myself.'"

[Cultural Approach]

The cultural approach emphasizes the social, historical, and cultural contexts that shape the
narrative. In this quote, the Misfit's disillusionment and lack of purpose may reflect the societal
disconnection or dissatisfaction prevalent during the time of the story's setting. It hints at a
broader cultural malaise, possibly symbolizing the existential struggles and emptiness in a
changing post-war American society. The approach helps illuminate societal themes and their
impact on character perspectives and actions.

"A good man is hard to find."

[Psychoanalytic Criticism]

This quote signifies the grandmother's internal conflict and her underlying desire for security and
goodness. Psychoanalytic analysis unveils the unconscious motivations and desires of characters.
In this story, it exposes the grandmother's yearning for safety and reliability, paralleling her
search for a "good man" with her quest for an idealized sense of security in an unpredictable
world. The approach helps uncover the characters' hidden fears, desires, and internal conflicts,
shedding light on the complexities of their actions and motivations.

"A good man is hard to find," Red Sammy said. "Everything is getting terrible. I remember the
day you could go off and leave your screen door unlatched. Not no more."

["Feminist Criticism"]

This quote reflects a patriarchal societal expectation, suggesting the scarcity of 'good men.'
Through a feminist lens, it unveils the characters' attitudes and perceptions, portraying societal
norms and gender roles. The approach sheds light on the power dynamics, traditional values, and
the grandmother's agency, exploring how the story reflects and reinforces gender biases
prevalent in the narrative and society at large.

The Displaced Person

"Over here it’s more advanced than where they come from. But yawl better look out now...
There’s about ten million billion more just like them and I know what Mrs. McIntyre said.
'Places are not easy to get nowadays, for white or black, but I reckon I heard what she stated to
me.'”

[Cultural Approach]

This quote reflects the cultural biases and prejudices prevalent in the society of the time. Mrs.
Shortley's fear of an influx of newcomers like the Displaced Persons indicates societal tensions
and a struggle to accept those perceived as different, regardless of whether they are white or
black.

A Temple of the Holy Ghost

"God made me thisaway, and I don’t dispute hit."

[Reader-Response Criticism]

This approach allows for an exploration of individual reactions and responses to the text. This
particular quote emphasizes the acceptance of oneself as created by God, despite being different
or unconventional. The emphasis on self-acceptance and understanding of one's uniqueness can
evoke various personal responses in readers, fostering contemplation on the themes of identity
and self-worth within the story.

Good Country People

"He was so sincere, so genuine and earnest that Mrs. Hopewell would not for the world have
smiled."
[Reader-Response Criticism]

Reader-response criticism focuses on the reader's role in interpreting and deriving meaning from
a text. This quote showcases Mrs. Hopewell's inner thoughts and feelings toward the Bible
salesman, emphasizing her internal conflict. The reader can perceive the tension between Mrs.
Hopewell's outward politeness and her inner skepticism or discomfort, allowing for a deeper
understanding of her character and the complexity of her reactions to the situation.

"Joy had made it plain that if it had not been for this condition, she would be far from these red
hills and good country people. She would be in a university lecturing to people who knew what
she was talking about."

[Feminist Criticism]

The feminist critical approach unveils the societal expectations and limitations imposed on Joy,
now known as Hulga, due to her disability and gender. This quote highlights Joy's desire for
education and intellectual engagement, challenging the traditional roles imposed on women in
rural settings. The analysis through a feminist lens allows insight into the character's aspirations,
the constraints placed upon her by societal norms, and the internal conflicts arising from gender
expectations and societal perceptions of disability.

A View of the Woods

"She didn’t move an inch. She had a habit of his of not hearing what she didn’t want to hear and
since this was a little trick he had taught her himself, he had to admire the way she practiced it."

[Psychoanalytic Criticism]

Using the psychoanalytic approach, this quote reveals a nuanced psychological insight into Mary
Fortune's character. It illustrates her defensive mechanism of selective hearing as a coping
strategy against unpleasant truths or experiences. Her emulation of her grandfather's behavior
hints at a psychological impact from their relationship dynamics, suggesting a form of learned
behavior or coping mechanism to protect herself from distressing realities.

"He thought she was the smartest and the prettiest child he had ever seen and he let the rest of
them know that if, IF that was, he left anything to anybody, it would be Mary Fortune he left it
to."

[Feminist Criticism]

This quote exemplifies the patriarchal nature of the old man's thoughts and actions towards Mary
Fortune. Through a feminist lens, this highlights the unequal power dynamics, where the male
figure expresses favoritism towards a female character based on traditional gender norms of
beauty and perceived intelligence. It unveils the inherent bias and sexism ingrained in societal
structures, even within familial relationships, and sheds light on the perpetuation of gender-based
inequalities and expectations.

The Enduring Chill

"There was something he was searching for, something that he felt he must have, some last
significant culminating experience that he must make for himself before he died - make for
himself out of his own intelligence" (346)

[Existentialism]

Looking at the excerpt with an Existentialist view, it shows that the main character really wants a
special experience that he chooses for himself. The words like "last significant culminating
experience" (346) point to the character wanting to make his life meaningful personally. This
makes the story more complex by showing that the character is trying to find his own way to
make life important.
Everything that rises must Converge

"True culture is in the mind, the mind," he said, and tapped his head, "the mind."

[Psychological Criticism]

This quote reflects Julian's psychological state and inner conflict, emphasizing the importance he
places on intellectual superiority and individual identity. Through this approach, Julian's fixation
on the mind showcases his desire for separation from his mother's beliefs and his struggle to
establish his own intellectual and emotional autonomy. It highlights his psychological
complexities and the internal battle between filial obligation and personal independence.

The Lame Shall Enter First

"Johnson’s sad thin hand rooted in garbage cans for food while his own child, selfish,
unresponsive, greedy, had so much that he threw it up."

[Deconstruction Criticism]

Using the deconstruction criticism lens, this quote showcases the stark contrast between
Johnson's destitution and Sheppard's perception of his own child's behavior. It invites analysis
regarding the constructed oppositions within the narrative: wealth and poverty, selfishness and
deprivation. Deconstruction would explore how these binary oppositions intersect, challenge
each other, and potentially decenter the fixed meanings usually attributed to these concepts.

Revelation

"Mrs. Turpin’s stomach shook. 'He’s such a caution,' she said, 'that I can’t help but laugh at
him.”

[Deconstruction Criticism]
This quote reveals the intricacies of Mrs. Turpin's character and the multi-layered nature of her
interactions. From a deconstructionist perspective, it showcases the tension between her apparent
superiority and her underlying vulnerabilities. It illustrates the constructed nature of societal
roles, where laughter serves as a mask for deeper insecurities, inviting a closer examination of
the contradictions within her character.

"What if Jesus had said, 'All right, you can be white-trash or a nigger or ugly'!"

[Psychoanalytic Criticism]

This quote delves into Mrs. Turpin's inner psyche and reflects her subconscious thoughts and
fears about identity and social standing. A psychoanalytic approach unveils the character's deep-
seated anxieties and insecurities related to social hierarchies. Mrs. Turpin's contemplation about
potential alternative identities, as dictated by Jesus, reveals her internal struggles with societal
norms and her fears about her place in the social order. The quote exposes her underlying
anxieties and reveals the psychological conflicts embedded within her.