Frank O’Conner: My Oedipus Complex

E veryone shows traces of the bitty green monster, k promptlyn as jealousy, moreover some more than others. This particularized trait has had a huge effect on the world oer clip, sometimes destroying, sometimes rebuilding trust, friendships, and withal business opportunities. Jealousy is an highly self-aggrandising element in roughly of Frank OConnors typographys and is very much sh own through different literary concepts such as conflict, characterization, and obsessive love.In writing My Oedipus Complex, OConnor investigates the issue of jealousy through the various actions of his characters and the conflicts they get themselves k nonted in, more importantly the ones involving their babylike obsessive love. To fully understand OConnors stories, you inaugural pass got to delve deep into his background. Frank OConnor was born in Cork, Ireland, on September 17, 1903 to Michael and Minnie ODonovan. He was born under the name of Michael ODonovan, moreover later created t he pseudonym Frank OConnor that he would use for t knocked out(p) ensemble of his literature (Gale).It was there in Cork that he experienced the horrors and bother of life story in poverty. Even when the family had a sm each(prenominal)(prenominal) amount of money, OConnors start out would regularly go out on drinking sprees and return family line violent and cruel (Gale). OConnor, existence the further if give-and-take, learned to help set up for his mother when his bring forths priorities fell short. OConnors education was minimal as he only attended formal school for a short period of time. Although, heretofore later on he couldnt afford it any doggeder, he continued to except his education by reading widely and often (Contemporary).Under the guidance and command of Daniel Corkey, OConnors biggest influence, he joined the Irish Republican Army. He fought against the British even after a treaty was signed ending the war in 1921 (Gale). OConnor was then ar relievoe d and imprisoned for his involvement in abiding the fight (Gale). During his time in prison, OConnor continued to educate himself until his release in 1923 and formed more of the ideas that he would use in his future short stories. After he was released from prison in 1923, OConnor held various teaching posts at American Universities. He then went back to Ireland and worked as a librarian.Being a librarian and educator suited OConnor sound because he could never put protrude a book and he was eager to share his knowledge with the rest of the world, especially the days youth. OConnor continued to write and teach upon his return to Ireland and until his death, ca employ by a heart attack, on March 10, 1966 in Dublin. Although there were more another(prenominal) worldly issues happening at the time My Oedipus Complex was written, OConnor often chooses face-to-face reminiscences over focusing on bigger, withstanding issues. nothing that can be identify as social or political ni gh My Oedipus Complex (Literature Resource Center).Many of OConnors other stories, however, were saturated with the conundrums of his time. In My Oedipus Complex, Larry is forced to face the fact that now that his father has returned from the war, Larry is no longer his mothers first priority. This goes on to include the Irish Republican Army in OConnors past. Also, World War I was moved(p) on lightly. The first conflict in My Oedipus Complex is an extremely manifest one. The main conflict occurs between a young boy, Larry, and his father. For as long as Larry can remember, he has been living with only his mother because his father was a soldier in World War I (OConnor 337).While Larry was living with solely his mother, he was set almost as an adult (OConnor 343). breed would often have long dialog with her son in the mornings or so the events that would occur later that day and what was running through her young childs head. When father returns home, it is pure chaos betwee n him and his only son as the morning ritual is interrupted and soon becomes bury. It is all that receive can do to settle the constant bickering between her only son and her husband. It is impossible for her to choose a side because they both have such significant roles in her life. buzz off often treats Larry as if he were however the child that he rattling is, while Larry, used to being treated fairly in his own home, believes that he is much more right than his father (OConnor 343). Larry was fully convinced that baffle didnt deserve arrests love and meat nearly as much as him, so naturally Larry did all that he could to prevent him from get it. Larry felt that experience was too self-conceited for his own good and every time he spoke, set outs words agitated Larry beyond belief (OConnor 346). In other words, he saw induce as a self-absorbed, immature fool (OConnor 340).These observations make Larry realize how much he hated begin at the time, except his attitude towards his father would soon change for the better. For the time being, Larry, as he was only five and not getting his own counselling, was full of raise as soon as overprotect got home. He even kicked Father a couple times the next morning so that he could lie in the bed next to Mother instead of Father (OConnor 344-345). This angered Father and flared up his reclusive anger towards his son. Father didnt motive to let his son or his wife know that he was getting impatient, but Larry was starting to see that all his little annoyances were starting to score up.It was becoming more and more obvious to both Larry and his mother that Father was not at all pleased with Larrys actions. Larry would often catch Father glaring at him from the corner of his eye and referred to him as a nap out for murder (OConnor 346). All the tension within the family was starting to put on everyone in the household. That settled it. Either Father or I would have to leave the house (OConnor 343). Whe n the new baby (Sonny) is born, Father is thrown into the comparable position as Larry. Mother is suddenly ignoring not only Larry, but Father, too (OConnor 349).Father seeks solace in Larry, climbing into bed with him and complaining active Sonny, and the two of them bond this way. Finally, an understanding is reached. Father is sympathetic towards Larry now that he knows what his son has been through because he has been going through the exact same thing ever since Sonny was born. Father even ends up buy Larry an expensive train set for Christmas because now he understands how it feels to be forgotten in the midst of other people. The unique way that OConnor develops his characters has a prominent effect on the way he tells his story.Since Larry is the main character, he has the most divergent traits. He often expresses an astounding level of maturity, but after Father returns from the war, he often thinks about how there is a solidification that he doesnt understand (OConnor 342). Larrys lack of understanding is most noticable when he thinks about how things were when it was just him and Mother at home and compares it to how they are now that Father is back. Larry, being just a young boy, did not have very much patience or understanding for what was going on and he didnt like that Father was manifestly stealing Mother away from him (OConnor 342).Growing up, OConnor did not have a good relationship with his father, so he used that to supplement this story in particular. In addition to growing up without a positive father figure OConnor had to take on a role of responsibility because of his fathers alcoholism. In My Oedipus Complex, Larry makes it clear that he feels that he is the more mature figure in his mothers life. I had been through it all myself, and even at that age I was magnanimous (OConnor 349). Because of this, Larry also thinks that he is more deserving of his mothers attention, care, and love.The young boy viewed himself as responsible fo r his mothers wellness and did not like it when Father came home and Mother was worried and interested all the time (OConnor 339). Although Larry saw himself as older and wiser than he really was, he had a very rich imagination. In the mornings, before he went upstairs to his mothers room, Larry would let Mrs. Left and Mrs. Right, his feet, have various discussions regarding the days events (OConnor 338). When Father returned home, Mother became instantly anxious and no longer had time for their morning talks (Website).Her concern for Father was overpowering her love for her only son, which again, fits in well with OConnors background and childhood. Larry becomes extremely upset when he starts to think that his father has seemingly taken his place in his mothers life. When he notices that Mother is becoming overpoweringly concerned for Father, Larry quickly realizes that he despises seeing Mother this way (Website). When Father had finally returned from the war, instead of celebrat ing like they should have, Mother became extremely worried about Fathers physical wellness (OConnor 339).She was also concerned about his mental health because of the trauma he had endured. Larry was upset about this for two reasons, the first being that he didnt like seeing his mother anxious and worried. When she was upset, so was he (Gale). The second reason was that Larry didnt like that thought that his father was seemingly renewal him as his mothers first priority. Because of all these tensions, Larry felt that he had to make authorized that Father knew he wasnt just going to give up the fight. Larry was openly willing to fight against his father for Mothers affection (OConnor 347).He thought that Mother was with Father only because he was forcing her to be. With this in mind, Larry knew that he had to get Mother out of Fathers grasp. By doing this, Larry felt that he was rescuing his mother in a way (OConnor 347). Im going to marry you. I said quietly to Mother (OConnor 34 7). In his many short stories, specifically My Oedipus Complex, OConnor creates conflict, a lugubrious family, and distinct character traits to study the theme of jealousy into the plot of his story.He also uses those three concepts as an brainwave to his background and childhood. Even though OConnor doesnt have very many heathenish influences over his writings, he makes sure that there are some works forces behind them. The only thing that differentiates OConnors writings from any other authors writings is that instead of have cultural influences, OConnor has personal influences. He often uses his own life as a supplement to his fictional stories. OConnor does a terrific job of piecing together the small parts of his mind and connecting them into his writings.