Self Preservation

"At that the old man stood up. "You act more like a Pitts than A fortune," he said. He had never made such an ugly remark to her before and he was sorry the instant he had said it. It hurt him more than it did her." (537)

There is much more to Flannery O'Connor's story A View of the Woods than a simple parable about a man outdone by his greed. At the core of O'Connor's main character, a self-centered octogenarian referred to as only Mr. Fortune, lies the basic human emotion of fear. Mr. Fortune would readily tell you that he does not fear progress and movement into the future as many people of his generation do. I will not argue that fact, but instead propose that it is fear of death that haunts the old man; perhaps even more so the fear of being forgotten. Mr. Fortune couldn't be less of a family man if he tried, only taking an interest in his granddaughter Mary Fortune. Mary just so happens to be the spitting image of her grandfather, both physically and intellectually. She is quick witted and strong willed, fearless and sturdy-minded. Throughout the story Mr. Fortune often comments on the similarities he sees between himself and his granddaughter, reflecting fondly on the likenesses. It is this borderline obsession with Fortune traits in his granddaughter that lead me to believe his invested interest stems from some idea of self-preservation. Mr. Fortune himself is afraid of the end, of the progress that will occur without him. This fear drives Mr. Fortune's actions. This fear is Mr. Fortune's fatal flaw. This fear of losing self leads to the death of both Mary Fortune when she became more Pitts than Fortune and Mr. Fortune himself.

Do you think that Mr. Fortune spelled out his own demise by living with fear and greed or do you think he was simply a victim of circumstance (his bad heart)?