Date of Graduation
1995
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to show the influence of lupus on the life and selected works of Flannery O'Connor. Through reading O'Connor's manuscripts, letters, and books, correspondence with Nancy Bray, curator of the Flannery O'Connor collection, and Sally Fitzgerald, and visiting Milledgeville, Georgia, the author has been able to describe O'Connor's life before and after she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Because the author is also a victim of a connective tissue disease, similar to lupus, she has shared many of the same symptoms of O'Connor which are also detailed. O'Connor's two novels, some of her short stories and her non-fiction works are analyzed. As a result, Flannery O'Connor is shown to be a determined, intelligent writer who wants the world to realize that although disabled people may be limited physically or mentally, they are still human beings and worthy of respect and love from others. The second purpose of this study is to illustrate how O'Connor's life and works can be utilized in curriculum and instruction under a variety of disciplines and multicultural studies.
Recommended Citation
Davis, Elizabeth Deidre, "The effects of lupus on Flannery O'Connor and some of her works." (1995). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8720.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8720