d that the main characters of her stories thought themselves to be superior to others, not realizing their lack of compassion until the desperate ending of the story.
             According to Muller, "Miss O'Connor's typical grotesque character, is a demonic and as such embraces as wide a moral range as characters, created through the techniques of psychological realism (23). Muller states that the grotesque protagonist is fated, obsessed and driven by demons" (23). I would have to disagree with Muller's statement that the protagonists are driven by demons. I feel that most of her characters are blinded by the narrow mindedness of society during that time period. I don't think O'Connor's characters are influenced by demons, but rather they are confused about their Christian thoughts and views.
             According to Muller, "Hazel Motes in "Wise Blood" is an example of Flannery O'Connor's grotesque protagonist (28). Muller states that Hazel Motes is a young man continually buffeted by the incredible, by the essence of the grotesque vision of the world" (23). I feel that in the creation of Hazel Motes, Flannery O'Connor perfected the grotesque protagonist. Hazel is a fanatic. His nature is opposed to grace. He is obsessed with Jesus to a degree that is not normal. Hazel tries desperately to deny his fundamentalist background to the extreme.
             According to Marshall Gentry, "O'Connor's characters, inhabit the territory held by the devil and are generally considered to be grotesque (4). Gentry states that their grotesque state reflects and increases the characters' separation from God and their spirituality" (4). I do not necessarily believe that O'Connor's characters inhabit the territory of the devil or that their grotesque state separates them from God. Her characters are lost in their search for redemption. They continually are in search of God and their spirituality but are misled by society's views. They then are led astray by false assumptions.
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