The short story can be one of the trickiest forms of literature around. Because the author is faced with the challenge of concluding the story quickly, he or she must be selective in their choice of words in order to convey the point that they are trying to make. In order to do this, the talented author will use every element of the story to assist in the telling of the story. Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation" is a fine example of the use of all these elements. She completes the thoughts and ideas by using the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbolism, style, and theme to reveal a lot about the story without having to use a great deal of description. The end result is a dynamic story written in the most compact form. While O'Connor brilliantly uses all the elements in "Revelation" to her advantage, her choice of settings is one part that significantly drives home the theme of the story.
             When reading the story "Revelation" by Flannery O'Connor, the reader must consider the settings as one of the most important elements. This story basically has two different settings. The first is the doctor's office waiting room and the other is the "pig parlor." Oddly, these settings have many parallels, which may or may not be obvious to the reader. When observed in detail, the similarities in these two settings serve to reinforce the meaning of the overall work.
             The story begins in the waiting room of a doctor's office. This room is very small and is described as "inadequate and ridiculous" (Meyer 340). The space is furnished with six chairs and a sofa; all of which encompass a magazine table in the middle. Upon entering the room, Ruby Turpin, the protagonist and a large woman, "made (the room) look even smaller by her presence" (Meyer 340). This small room requires the people to sit closer and interact in an environment, which no...