The Sinister Aspects of Solitude: Corrupted Loners in Flannery O’Connor’s “The Lame Shall Enter First”
The Sinister Aspects of Solitude: Corrupted Loners in Flannery O’Connor’s “The Lame Shall Enter First”

Summary/Abstract: Offering a close reading of Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “The Lame Shall Enter First,” and drawing on concepts of social psychology, this paper argues that the tragic outcome of the interactions between the three protagonists is due to their extended solitude and isolation from other people. Due to their long-term solitude, they have suffered emotional, moral or intellectual damage, which results in mutually destructive social interactions when they intermittently take place. In addition to this aspect of isolation, the clash of beliefs and attitudes is also examined as a contributing factor to the ensuing disaster.

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