Paperback Edition
Paperback
190 pages
$19.95
Choose vendor to order paperback edition
BrownWalker Press
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Harvard Book Store
Return policy
PDF eBook
Entire PDF eBook
455k
$17
Get instant access to an entire eBook
Buy PDF Password
Download Complete PDF
eBook editions
Paradox Lost and Paradox Regained
An Object Relations Analysis of Two Flannery O'Connor Mother-Child Dyads
by Sherry L. Lebeck


Publisher: | Dissertation |
Pub date: | 2000 |
Pages: | 190 |
ISBN-10: | 1581120869 |
ISBN-13: | 9781581120868 |
Categories: | Psychology Psychology Psychology |
Abstract
This study uses two short stories by Flannery O'Connor to explore D. W. Winnicott's theory of early childhood development. This thesis proposes that the "inherited potential" of the individual is determined by the quality of the early maternal environment, especially during the period of Winnicott's first two paradoxical stages of development: Absolute Dependence and Relative Dependence. The mother-adult/child relationships in O'Connor's two short stories "Good Country People" and "The Enduring Chill" serve as case studies to examine the ramifications of "not good-enough" mothering on the infant's psychological state during these first two stages of development. The concepts of mirroring, impingement, true and false self development, illusion, transitional phenomenon, and aggression are considered in the context of the mother-child relationship to demonstrate how maternal inadequacy undermines all aspects of the child's "going-on-being."In "The Enduring Chill" it was determined that protagonist Asbury Fox is psychologically fixated at the stage of Absolute Dependence because he exhibits symptoms indicative of repetitive early environmental impingement: He is maternally dependent, has little or no sense of self, exhibits primitive omnipotence and thwarted creativity. Conversely, Joy/Hulga Hopewell in "Good Country People" achieves the developmental stage of Relative Dependence based upon her ability to physically and psychologically separate from her mother, forge her own identity, accomplish educational goals, and make use of transitional objects.
In conjunction with the observation of mother-infant dyads, the impact of the absent father is further assessed to determine the level of impairment and quality of the adult-child's achievement of independence. It was concluded that Asbury Fox was unable to complete passage of the Oedipus complex, because his father died when he was five. Divorce, when Joy/Hulga is ten, leaves her without a father to mediate between mother and daughter. Thus, these two angry adult children experience either dependency, like Asbury Fox who searches for fathers in life, or rejection of maternal closeness like Joy/Hulga who attempts to forge a father in the creation of a name.
Paperback Edition
Paperback
190 pages
$19.95
Choose vendor to order paperback edition
BrownWalker Press
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Harvard Book Store
Return policy
PDF eBook
Entire PDF eBook
455k
$17
Get instant access to an entire eBook
Buy PDF Password
Download Complete PDF
eBook editions
Share this book
Relevant events
OCT
24
PSYCHOLOGYCONF
3rd Global Conference on Psychology (Psychologyconf)
Psychologyconf 2025 – Global Conference on Psychology
📍 Oxford, UK | 24–26 October 2025
Join leading minds in the Humanities and Social Sciences for the 3rd edition of Psychologyconf in historic Oxford. This internati...
3rd Global Conference on Psychology (Psychologyconf)
Psychologyconf 2025 – Global Conference on Psychology
📍 Oxford, UK | 24–26 October 2025
Join leading minds in the Humanities and Social Scienc...
3rd Global Conference on Psychology (Psychologyconf)
Psychologyconf 2025 – Global Conference on Psychology
📍 Oxford, UK | 24...
3rd Global Conference on Psychology (Psychologyconf)
Psychologyconf 2025 – Global Conference on Psych...
24 - 26 Oct 2025
Oxford, United Kingdom
NOV
14
SHCONF2025
9th world conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Date: 14-16 Nov 2025
Event type: Conference
Venue: London, UK
About us: The 9th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities is going to be held in 2025! The 2025 edition received exceptional praise for its ins...
9th world conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Date: 14-16 Nov 2025
Event type: Conference
Venue: London, UK
About us: The 9th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities is going t...
9th world conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Date: 14-16 Nov 2025
Event type: Conference
Venue: London, UK
About...
9th world conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Date: 14-16 Nov 2025
Event type: Conference
...
14 - 16 Nov 2025
London, United Kingdom
DEC
12
GCCY
6th Global Conference on Children and Youth
The 6th Global Conference on Children and Youth follows the success of the 2025 event. Featuring presentations by the world’s leading academics, this children conference will do a deep dive into topics that impact younger ...
6th Global Conference on Children and Youth
The 6th Global Conference on Children and Youth follows the success of the 2025 event. Featuring presentations by the world’s leading academics, th...
6th Global Conference on Children and Youth
The 6th Global Conference on Children and Youth follows the success of th...
6th Global Conference on Children and Youth
The 6th Global Conference on Children and Youth ...
12 - 14 Dec 2025
Cambridge, United Kingdom
FEB
20
NTSSCONF
9th International Conference on New Trends in Social Sciences
📅 Date: 20 – 22 February 2026
📍 Venue: Barcelona, Spain
🎓 Event Type: Academic Conference
________________________________________
🌍 About the Conference
We are proud to host the 9th International Conference on Ne...
9th International Conference on New Trends in Social Sciences
📅 Date: 20 – 22 February 2026
📍 Venue: Barcelona, Spain
🎓 Event Type: Academic Conference
________________________________________
🌍 About ...
9th International Conference on New Trends in Social Sciences
📅 Date: 20 – 22 February 2026
📍 Venue: Barcelona, Spain
🎓 Event Type...
9th International Conference on New Trends in Social Sciences
📅 Date: 20 – 22 February 2026
📍 Venue: Barcel...
20 - 22 Feb 2026
Online Event | Spain
MAR
27
IACSSH
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Dates: 27 – 29 March 2026
Location: Nanyang Technological University (NTU) @ One-North Executive Centre
Address: 11 Slim Barracks Rise, Singapore 1...
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Dates: 27 – 29 March 2026
Location: Nanyang Technological University (NTU...
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
...
3rd International Academic Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
3rd International Academic Conference on Social ...
27 - 29 Mar 2026
Singapore, Singapore
APR
24
LGBTCONF 2026
5th International Conference on LGBT studies
📅 Date: 24 – 26 April 2026 📍 Venue: Madrid, Spain (Exact venue details to be updated soon) 🎓 Event Type: Academic Conference
🌍 About the Conference The 5th International Conference on LGBT Studies provides a global fo...
5th International Conference on LGBT studies
📅 Date: 24 – 26 April 2026 📍 Venue: Madrid, Spain (Exact venue details to be updated soon) 🎓 Event Type: Academic Conference
🌍 About the Confe...
5th International Conference on LGBT studies
📅 Date: 24 – 26 April 2026 📍 Venue: Madrid, Spain (Exact venue details ...
5th International Conference on LGBT studies
📅 Date: 24 – 26 April 2026 📍 Venue: Madrid, Sp...
24 - 26 Apr 2026
madrid, Spain
APR
24
IACHSS
12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences
🌍 12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences (IACHSS 2026)
📅 Dates: 24–26 April 2026
📍 Venue: Madrid, Spain (Exact venue to be announced soon)
🔗 Official Website: https://www.iachss.org...
12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences
🌍 12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences (IACHSS 2026)
📅 Dates: 24–26 April 2026
📍 Venue: Madrid, Spain (Exa...
12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences
🌍 12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Scienc...
12th International Academic Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences
🌍 12th International Academic Conference on Hum...
24 - 26 Apr 2026
madrid, Spain
MAY
15
WPBCONF
4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
The 4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences will be happening in London from May 15 – 17, 2026. This international psychology conference is a special gathering point for researchers and professionals fro...
4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
The 4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences will be happening in London from May 15 – 17, 2026. This international psychology co...
4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
The 4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences will be ha...
4th World Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
The 4th World Conference on Psychology and Behav...
15 - 17 May 2026
London, United Kingdom