Redefining the pastoral in contemporary literature through the works of Flannery O'Connor

The pastoral form is one of the oldest in the literary tradition. Historically, the definition of "pastoral" was limited to eclogues and idylls that epitomize a simple way of life, usually with shepherds as their subject. Over time, the pastoral genre has undergone numerous metamorphoses that retain some aspects of a simplistic vision, while contradicting the more complex matters that help to define the human condition. These transformations have allowed for pastoral motifs set in direct opposition to everyday life in order to exemplify human frailties. In Flannery O'Connor's works, the simplicities of natural southern settings are in direct contrast to the complexities of her characters' situations. Her use of the pastoral mode serves to sharpen the emotions and define the limitations of the all too human characters who inhabit her potentially pastoral ideal.