Unhappiness & Julian in Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor

When people are not satisfied with their lives, it is often very convenient, and at times may seem necessary, to find a scapegoat for life's downfalls and disappointments. Throughout life, there are hardships and realities that everyone must face and deal with but this is a challenging and daunting task for many. Some people - who don't cope well with hardships - often find joy in others' faults and constantly choose to ridicule or contradict them. However, this inability to deal with problems and disappointment doesn't only hurt the scapegoats. The people who blame others for their own misfortunes also hurt themselves because they don't seem to develop into strong characters. They aren't critical thinkers who thoroughly make decisions on their own and they don't take responsibility for their actions. Often, they choose the opposing side to anyone who is constant reminder of their own failures and shortcomings. In the short story, Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O'Connor reveals that the main character, Julian, struggles with his personal unhappiness and tries to blame others for life's disappointments.