Parker's Back

Parker's Back was an interesting story. It was funny at times, interesting, and sad. Flannery O'Connor's vivid description of "tree of fire" and eyes that said "GO BACK" really hit me. She painted a beautiful story of a man's search for a medium between pleasing his wife, being himself, and finding meaning. It was interesting to see what happened, although it was a little foreshadowed in the beginning that she would not be pleased by his tattoo of christ on his back.

There is a lot of symbolism in the story, to the point where O'Connor was just slabbing it on, like lunchmeat at a quiznos. Well, maybe not as rapidly and generously, but certainly enough that to look in every direction and see possibly some symbol. My interpretation is that his wife possibly represents the dramatic demands and harsh reality of the south. Parker's tattooes probably represent some of the confusing times of when the story was written. The tree of fire probably represents some kind of religious communication possible between God and Parker. Also, references "the burning bush" in the Old Testament which was used to communicate between God and Moses. The tatoo of Christ on his back, especially the Byzantine era, possibly represents what it actually is, the eyes of God boring through Parker's back. He can get as many tatoos as he wants to be individual, cool, or a hard man, but he will die and be emasculated by his wife.

I love O'Connor's style and her characters. It's easy to be both disturbed and sympathetic to the characters.