Examples of the Grotesque in Some Aspects of Southern Fiction
Flannery O'Connor's works are full of grotesque elements. In 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find,' the grandmother's self - centered and somewhat deluded character is a form of the grotesque. She represents the old - fashioned and often narrow - minded southern values in a very exaggerated way.
In William Faulkner's writing, there are also grotesque aspects. For instance, the character of Benjy in 'The Sound and the Fury' is a grotesque figure. His mental disability and the way he experiences the world, which is so different from the norm, is a key part of the grotesque in Faulkner's southern - set story. It shows the breakdown of the Compson family and, by extension, the southern aristocracy.
Another example can be found in Carson McCullers' stories. Her characters often have a sense of isolation and alienation that is presented in a grotesque light. The way they interact with others, or rather fail to interact in a normal way, is a characteristic of the grotesque in southern fiction. It reflects the individual's struggle against the social norms and expectations in the South.