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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page essay that analyzes Frank O'Connor's "My Oedipus Complex," a short story told from the perspective of a five year old boy about adjusting to his father returning home from war. The writer argues that O'Connor's use of perspective offers usual insight into family dynamics. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khfooed.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
of childhood sometime later in life. If the story were told in the present tense, OConnor would have to try to emulate the limited story-telling capabilities of a child. However,
by relating the narrative via the voice of an adult Larry, OConnor neatly bypasses this problem while still retaining the advantages in the childs perspective. By discussing how a
family adjusts to a father returning home from war in this manner, OConnor offers usual insight into family dynamics by focusing on how the situation appears to five-year-old Larry.
The story takes places after the close of World War I. While the war was raging, Larrys father was simply a mysterious, "Santa Clause"-like figure who appeared occasionally in the
night and then disappeared just as quickly. As this suggests, when Larrys father returns home from the war, he is a total stranger, which makes family dynamics difficult as father
and son have to build their relationship from scratch. Furthermore, as the title of the story implies, Larry has had his mothers exclusive attention his entire life. His fathers presence
upset Larrys routine and he resents having to share his mothers attention. The situation is further complicated with the arrival of a new baby, a brother, who now
becomes the focus of attention in the family. Both Larry and his father are now ousted from being the center of attention. This, however, provides a basis for a bound
to grow between father and son. Larry is a highly intelligent, creative child who is brimming with enthusiasm and life. The adult narrator describes how, as a child,
he always woke up at first light, brimming with enthusiasm for the new day, feeling "like the sun, ready to illuminate and rejoice" (OConnor, 2002). He would hold imaginary conversation
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