Christian Themes

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The Christian themes of this work are informed by three considerations: Flannery O’Connor’s own Roman Catholic faith, her use of the grotesque style, and the southern agrarian tradition.

O’Connor wrote from the perspective of a Catholic author who viewed humanity as “fallen” and thus in need of the redemption that can come only through Christ. In Catholicism, such redemption was accomplished through the sacraments, which were the visible and physical signs of invisible and supernatural grace. What O’Connor insightfully grasped was the “violence” that lay at the heart of these rituals. Baptism was not just a rite of cleansing; it was the destruction of the old self that must precede the birth of the new. The Eucharist was not simply a shared meal of bread and wine; it both symbolized and actualized the crucifixion of Christ as the perpetual action of redemption. Although none of the characters in Wise Blood are Catholic (Hazel assures his landlady that the Church Without Christ is indeed Protestant), they represent fallen humanity to whom grace must come through physical violence. Thus, the senseless demolition of his car is the “sacrament” that brings redemption to Hazel, who then symbolizes his new “spiritual sight” by the destruction of his physical ability to see.

By her use of the grotesque style, O’Connor emphasized this sacramental perspective in which the physical world is intermeshed with, and therefore reflects, spiritual realities. Southern writers such as William Faulkner had utilized grotesque characters to challenge cultural stereotypes; but O’Connor uses the exaggerated and distorted style of the grotesque to represent universal images of humanity’s unredeemed condition. Her grotesque characters became the medium of her own evangelistic message in her Mystery and Manners (1969): “to the hard of hearing you shout, and to the almost-blind you draw large and startling figures.”

The grotesque had also been used by Southern writers to underscore the existential problems of modern urban society, a principal concern of the agrarian movement of the 1930’s. In Wise Blood, the city of Taulkinham provides the antithesis not of agrarian values but of the Christian ethos, symbolized by the bloodless “new jesus” who inhabits the heart of the city. Similarly, the Essex, “built by people with their eyes wide open that knew where they were at,” is a modern machine that proves unable to transport Hazel beyond his existential angst; therefore its destruction must precede his redemption.

God and Religion

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The main theme of Wise Blood centers on Christ's redemption of humanity. The characters exhibit characteristics of people with a misguided spiritual purpose, if they have one at all. For example, Motes tries to escape his rigid religious background by openly denying Christ, participating in illegal acts, and establishing the "Church Without Christ." Meanwhile, characters like Shoats and Hawks take advantage of religion for monetary profit. Despite Motes's fervent denial of Christ's power, he ultimately cannot escape Christ's salvation.

Moral Corruption

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Materialism contributes to the moral decay of humanity. When individuals prioritize accumulating wealth and possessions, they often neglect spiritual development and awareness. This can lead to immoral actions, as they ignore the difference between right and wrong in their pursuit of success. For instance, Motes and Emery view owning a car and adopting a modern lifestyle, respectively, as means to their ends. They kill without remorse, believing it is justified to achieve their objectives. Furthermore, Hawks lives dishonestly to make a living, while Shoats manipulates Layfield to con others out of money. The novel frequently mentions money to emphasize the characters' obsession with it: Mrs. Hitchcock comments on the cost of Motes's coat; street vendors and car salesmen...

(This entire section contains 138 words.)

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haggle over prices; Shoats and Layfield reveal their earnings; and more. This fixation on material wealth leads to spiritual turmoil.

Change and Transformation

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In Wise Blood, two characters undergo profound changes that highlight the book's central themes. Erik Nielsen, writing in the New Orleans Review, notes that Motes experiences multiple significant transformations throughout the narrative, while Mrs. Flood's single transformation brings the story to its conclusion. Motes's first change occurs during boot camp when he decides he lacks a soul, prompting him to reject his religious upbringing and embrace atheism, which drives him to immoral behavior. His second transformation is evident when he declares to a taxi driver that he believes in nothing, marking his shift to nihilism. Motes's self-inflicted blindness signifies his third transformation, symbolizing his last effort to obliterate his conscience. Living as a committed Christian in Mrs. Flood's home, Motes reaches his final life stage, culminating in his ultimate transition from life to death.

Mrs. Flood's transformation begins when Motes blinds himself. Initially, she intended to marry him for his money, but over time, she grew genuinely fond of him and chose to care for him out of true concern. As M. J. Fitzgerald points out in the Reference Guide to American Literature, "There is only one person in the book who retains a human ambiguity in response to the call of religion and of Christianity and yet is transformed and converted by contact with Hazel."

Free Will

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Hazel Motes is determined to silence his conscience by rejecting his faith in God. He believes that by eliminating morality from his life, he can evade Jesus. Once he sheds this burden, he feels he can act without his conscience bothering him. He eagerly grasps the opportunity to cut ties with God when his boot camp friends question whether he truly possesses a soul. In that moment, he chooses to exchange his soul for emptiness. However, neither he nor any other character ever completely achieves the liberation they seek. Even as Motes attempts to deny Christ, his interactions with others compel them to momentarily recognize Christ's presence.

Flesh vs. Spirit

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The "Hazel Motes without a soul" is free to behave in any manner he chooses. When he embraces a belief in nothing, concepts of morality disappear. Motes informs a taxi driver that he holds no beliefs and subsequently has a sexual encounter with Mrs. Watts. This act is his attempt to prove to himself that he has abandoned his conscience and the religious upbringing that previously shaped his understanding of morality.

Conscience

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Motes argues that the conscience is merely an illusion. He tells people, "if you think it does [exist], you had best get it out in the open and hunt it down and kill it, because it's no more than your face in the mirror is or your shadow behind you." Motes is convinced he has successfully eliminated his conscience. However, Solace Layfield represents what is left of Motes's conscience—his awareness or persistent thoughts about his religious history. In an effort to completely free himself from his conscience, Motes hunts down and kills Layfield.

Appearances and Reality

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Frequently, appearance and reality do not match. In Wise Blood, however, they both align and clash. For instance, Motes resembles a preacher, leading everyone to believe he is one. Despite his strong denials, he genuinely is a preacher. On the other hand, although Motes attempts to act as if he lacks religion, he cannot avoid it. From Motes's point of view, his appearance contradicts his reality. From others' perspectives, Motes's appearance exposes his true nature.

American Dream

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Emery dreams of "becoming someone significant." He strives to improve his circumstances until he reaches the pinnacle of success. His goal is to be THE young man of the future, similar to those seen in insurance commercials. He envisions a day when a line of people will wait to shake his hand. For Emery, the city and its institutions represent the American Dream. They become integral to his daily life because he believes that adopting the city's wealthy lifestyle will help him achieve his ambitions.

Motes also views the American Dream as achievable through material success. Although he does not seek to be a notable figure, he sees owning a car as proof that he has fulfilled his life's purpose—to sever his connection with God by establishing the Church Without Christ. Like those pursuing the American Dream, Motes considers his car a symbol that he has "made it."

Integrity and Sincerity

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The theme of integrity is pivotal in Wise Blood. Hazel is resolute in his decision to reject Christ authentically, emphasizing that penance should be carried out with genuine sincerity. It is unethical to exploit Christ for financial gain, as Hawks does by pretending to sacrifice his sight to God merely to gather donations. Similarly, Hoover Shoats (also known as Onnie Jay Holy) feigns love for his fellow man while secretly despising them, pandering to their desire for a no-strings-attached faith "based on your own personal interpretation of the Bible, friends." O'Connor clearly satirizes evangelism and the self-appointment of unqualified preachers, expressing her disdain for anti-intellectual popular religion. Shoats assures the street crowds, "If you don't understand it, it ain't true, and that's all there is to it. No jokers in the deck, friends." For Motes, blasphemy represents the only sincere route, contrasting with the cynical manipulation of Christianity. He also dismisses the "new jesus" discovered by his lone follower, Enoch Emery, in the park's museum—a small mummy intended to represent the idea of no Jesus at all, missing the essence entirely.

Materialism and Critique of Society

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Hazel's attempt to substitute Jesus with material goods also reflects O'Connor's criticism of modern society. His aging Essex car serves both as a tool for promoting his new anti-church and as a stand-in for Christ in Motes's life. As he explains to Sabbath Lily, "No one with a good car needs to be justified."

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