Motes' Doubles And His Spiritual Growth In Wise Blood

Flannery O'Connor is one of the most important Southern writers after William Faulkner.Her first book length work Wise Blood is one of her only two novels.In the novel,O'Connor reveals from the religious perspective modern people's spiritual predicament.Through the description of the protagonist's growing process,the author shows the importance of spiritual quest.Wise Blood is a novel about Hazel Motes' spiritual growth and it explores the process of the protagonist's spiritual quest,in which Hazel Motes' involvement with a series of people stimulates his self-exploration through his inner conflicts and promotes his spiritual rebirth.The theory of doubling is unusually effective in studying such complex psychological conflicts and religious pursuit.This thesis applies the theory of doubling to the exploration of Hazel Motes' spiritual quest.There are four important characters who are Hazel Motes' doubles.They represent Motes' different aspects and therefore help him gradually achieve self-understanding.These four doubles are Enoch Emery,Asa Hawks,Hoover Shoats and Solace Layfield,who meet Hazel Motes one after another and each of them produces a powerful impact on Motes' spiritual world.Beside his involvement with his doubles,their departure or death also makes Hazel Motes understand himself and promotes his rebirth.This thesis firstly explores the spiritual crisis of Taulkinham citizens.In this context the chapter will discuss the theory of doubling.Then through analyzing Hazel Motes' interaction with his four doubles,this thesis explores the spiritual development of the protagonist and studies the religious significance of the novel.At last,this thesis emphasizes that Flannery O'Connor,a Catholic writer,is greatly concerned about religious belief and spiritual quest.Hazel Motes' spiritual growth through his interaction with his doubles reveals that the right way to salvation is spiritual quest.