And the Blind Will See: Analyzing Mrs. Flood and the Theme of Blindness in Wise Blood A. K. Bobo College

In her novel, Wise Blood, Flannery O’Connor employs the use of many themes, motifs, and symbols in order to weave structure into the often confusing and seemingly distorted story. One of the most prominent themes illustrated throughout this book is that of blindness. The concept of sight—or lack thereof—carries with it much symbolism, both Biblically and in the novel, and is explored through many of the characters in the story. Although the plotline with Hazel Motes and Asa Hawks focuses greatly on the significance of blindness, another character who has a unique perspective and many interesting interactions with this concept is Hazel’s landlady, Mrs. Flood. In the second-to-last chapter of the novel, in an effort to show his commitment to the truth he in which believes, Hazel blinds himself. From this point on, the perspective of the story shifts from Hazel to Mrs. Flood. It is through the landlady’s character that readers get a glimpse of the meaning and significance of blindness in this text. As Mrs. Flood comes to realize through her interactions with the now-blind Hazel Motes, blindness, in this story, is actually true sight.

When Hazel first tells Mrs. Flood that he is going to blind himself, she wonders what could have...