A Summary and Analysis of ‘Why Do the Heathen Rage?'

Title Why Do the Heathen Rage? Author Flannery O'Connor First Published 1963 in Esquire magazine Genre Short Story Setting American South Main Characters Mrs. Tilman, Walter, Tilman, Mary Maud, Roosevelt Key Themes Family Dynamics, Responsibility, Religious Faith, Identity Literary Devices Irony, Symbolism, Biblical Allusions Notable Publication Appears in The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor A Summary and Analysis of ‘Why Do the Heathen Rage?’ ‘Why Do the Heathen Rage?’ is one of the more peculiar stories within the Complete Stories of Flannery O’Connor , a collection showcasing the works of this influential Southern writer. Known for its brevity, this short story is somewhat unique as it is more of a fragmentary piece. It serves as an early version of what could have been O’Connor’s third novel. Unfortunately, the novel was never completed due to O’Connor's untimely death, but the manuscript was published as a complete work, or as complete as it could be, in 2024. The story first appear…