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00:00:00 – 00:17:42
Deal Hudson's video explores Flannery O'Connor's short story "Green Leaf," focusing on the spiritual and symbolic elements that underscore the narrative. Central to the discussion is the character Mrs. May, whose superficial religiosity and arrogance mask a profound vulnerability. She perceives herself in control of her farm and family, but this illusion is dismantled by recurring, mystical encounters with a bull—representing divine power and disruption. The bull symbolizes Mrs. May's subconscious struggle against forces beyond her control, culminating in a transformative confrontation where the bull violently pierces her heart, signifying a shift in her perception and control.
Hudson draws parallels between Mrs. May's experience and mystical visions described by saints like Teresa of Avila and Hildegard of Bingen, emphasizing themes of spiritual awakening and the dramatic interplay between control, vulnerability, and divine intervention. The video concludes with readings from Saint Teresa's "Book of Life," underscoring the intense, often paradoxical nature of spiritual love and transformation.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Deal Hudson introduces himself and clarifies that he is not a Flannery O’Connor scholar but a dedicated reader. He highlights O’Connor’s significance as a Catholic writer and her broad impact. He then shifts focus to O’Connor’s short story “Green Leaf,” published in 1956 and republished posthumously in 1965. Hudson discusses the character of Mrs. May, describing her as an arrogant woman who looks down on others, especially Mr. Greenleaf and his wife, who is a prayer healer. Mrs. May respects religion superficially but lacks genuine belief. She reacts negatively to Mrs. Greenleaf’s prayer practices and compares her own sons’ achievements unfavorably against the Greenleafs’ sons. Her disdain leads her to change her will to prevent her sons’ potential spouses, who she deems unworthy, from inheriting her farm.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the nature of reality and its connection to destiny through the lens of Mrs. May, a character who believes she has control over her farm and family. However, her illusion of control is threatened by a mystical scene involving a bull that symbolizes divine power. The bull, described as a god-like figure, challenges her presumed authority and represents a powerful, mythological force capable of disrupting her world. The speaker emphasizes the need to shed preconceived notions about the author, Flannery O’Connor, to fully appreciate the spiritual significance embedded in the story’s opening and closing scenes.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, Mrs. May experiences recurring dreams featuring a bull with two horns that chews rhythmically and destructively. She struggles with her perceived control over the bull, which represents a force that undermines her dominance and sense of order. The author uses various symbols, such as the garland slipping down the bull’s horns and Mrs. May’s fragile appearance with green rubber curlers, to contrast the bull’s raw power and Mrs. May’s frailty. Despite her assertions of superiority and control over others, including her own sons and her demands to subdue or kill the bull, Mrs. May is depicted as ultimately powerless and unrespected. Her superiority complex is palpable, yet it is notably challenged when she enters a pristine and bright milking parlor managed by the Green Leaf sons, highlighting her misplaced arrogance.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, Mrs. May realizes that the challenges she faces, including a garlanded bull at her window, stem from the Green Leaf boys, individuals she views as inferior and indebted to her. This perceived threat to her control and status leads to a graphic spiritual encounter that is not intellectual, psychological, or rational but rather a violent and erotic attack, symbolized by the bull’s horns piercing her. Mrs. May instructs Mr. Greenleaf to hunt the bull, and as she waits, she reflects on her life’s accomplishments but takes no sympathy from the author. She imagines various scenarios, including Mr. Greenleaf’s potential death and the subsequent legal troubles, and finds a perverse pleasure in these thoughts. Ultimately, she reassures herself with the knowledge that Mr. Greenleaf has a gun and insurance.
00:12:00
In this part of the video, the narrative discusses a scene involving Mrs. May and a bull on her farm. Despite her initial impatience, indicated by honking her car, Mrs. May is confronted by the bull, which has spent three days on her property. The bull approaches her with an eager and almost joyous gait, symbolizing a “dance.” Mrs. May remains frozen, unable to fully grasp the reality of losing control over her life. The bull ultimately aims for her lap, and one of its horns pierces her heart, depicting a violent and profound connection. This moment is described as a transformative experience for Mrs. May, with the contrast between the dark wound and unbearable light representing a shift in perception. The narrative suggests this act could symbolize a form of love-death (liebesto) or a mystical union, as described by Saint Hildegard of Bingen.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses a poignant and intimate moment involving Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Catherine of Sienna. They describe Saint Catherine whispering tenderly into the ear of a bull, suggesting these words were filled with love and possibly representing an erotic redemption. This moment portrays a dramatic understanding of reality and a profound personal discovery.
To conclude, the video includes a reading from Saint Teresa of Avila’s “Book of Life,” where she describes a mystical experience with an angel and a golden dart, which brings about both intense spiritual pain and overwhelming love for God. This passage is highlighted to illustrate the deep and sweet exchange of love between the soul and God.