“My Oedipal Complex” by Frank O’Connor

My Oedipal Complex” by Frank O’Connor Answer the following questions in complete sentences. The last unnumbered one requires a fully developed paragraph response. 1. How does O’Connor establish the story’s point of view? What details does he use? What is the narrator’s persona (personality)? The author established the setting, the point of view, and the time. We find out how old he is and how he sees thing. 1st first person - 2 perspectives – 5 year old with an adult’s voice as seen in the narration. 2 levels of narration Larry is self-absorbed and possessive and wants attention. 2. Describe how the narrator’s situation relates to the Oedipus complex. He resents the father and wants to marry his mother, but there is no sexual component. He’s just used to sleeping with his mother when he dad is away. 3. How does O’Connor create humor in the story? He creates it through the adult voice and verbal irony. 4. Describe the relationship between the narrator and his father. He feels like a stranger to his father. He resents his father who has shown up and is now replacing him. He’s cold toward his father. His father in turn ignores his son. 5. What is the boy’s understanding of his mother’s pregnancy? The narrator does not associate pregnancy initially with a baby coming. He thinks people buy babies in a store. He thinks the baby will be a good thing. 6. How does the new baby affect the relationship between the narrator and his father? The baby replaces the attention he was getting. It brings the father and son together because they feel pushed aside and resent this new baby. How is Freud’s concept of the “Oedipus Complex” applied to Frank O’Connor’s short story, “My Oedipus Complex”? How, in turn, does the short story compare/contrast to the play, Oedipus Rex? (Consider the concept of self-awareness.) Look at similarities and differences. Answer: The father and son are strangers in the beginn