Movie: Wildcat

Wildcat
Be invited into the deep end of the pool about faith and creativity.

Flannery O'Conner:
“I have found, in short, from reading my own writing, that my subject in fiction is the action of grace in territory largely held by the devil. I have also found that what I write is read by an audience which puts little stock either in grace or the devil. You discover your audience at the same time and in the same way that you discover your subject, but it is an added blow.”

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In this quote, O'Connor reflects on the central theme of her fiction writing, which is the presence and action of grace within a world that is often dominated by darkness, sin, and evil ("territory largely held by the devil"). She sees her role as a writer as one who explores this tension between grace and sin, often portraying characters who are confronted with moments of grace despite their flawed and sinful nature.

However, O'Connor acknowledges that her audience may not share her deep belief in the reality of grace and evil. She recognizes that her work is read by people who may not fully appreciate or understand these spiritual dimensions, which can be disheartening for a writer who seeks to convey these themes with sincerity and depth. So, the quote captures her sense of challenge in writing about such profound themes for an audience that may not fully engage with or appreciate them.