Flannery OConnor’s The Enduring Chill :: OConnor Enduring Chill Essays

Flannery OConnors The Enduring ChillFlannery OConnors narration, The Enduring Chill. focuses on Asbury, a adolescent man who fancies himself as a writer but who is convinced he is exhalation to die young. Right from the very start we have the savor that, as in the other stories, Christ/God is present through the figure of the sun The sky was a chill gray and a startling white gold sun, like some strange authoritarian from the east, was rising beyond the black woods that surrounded Timberboro. (82)As the story proceeds it centres on the relationships between Asbury, his mother and Dr Block who attends Asbury and Asburys growing article of faith that he is shortly going to die, hence the title of the story, The Enduring Chill. other major symbol in the development of Asburys obsession figures through the waterline or the water stain on the ceiling of Asburys bedroom When she was gone, he lay for some time staring at the water stains on the gray walls. Descending from the top mo ulding, long icicle shapes had been etched by leaks and, direct over his bed on the ceiling, another leak had made a fierce bird with spread wings. It had an icicle crosswise in its beak and in that location were smaller icicles depending from its wings and tail. It had been there since his childhood and had always irritated him and sometimes had frightened him. He had often had the illusion that it was in motion to the highest degree to descend mysteriously and set the icicle on his head. He closed his look and thought I wont have to look at it for many much days. And presently he went to sleep. (93)Clearly what is being suggested here is the peace of the beatified Ghost. In what is the climatic centre of the story, Asbury has a visit from a romish Catholic Priest who accuses him of ignorance How can the Holy Ghost fill your instinct when its full of trash? the Priest roared. The Holy Ghost will not come until you see yourself as you are-a lazy ignorant conceited jejunenes s he said, pounding his fist on the little bedside table. (107)This is confirmed as the story proceeds because we find out that Asbury isnt really that sick at all he only has a form of undulant fever and is going to live. At the very end of the story Asbury seems to give up his design to be a great writer as he accepts the heading and power of Christ instead