The short story "Greenleaf" shows us some of the central themes of Flannery O'Connor's literary work.

Religion is one of the main themes in her works and also in "Greenleaf." In this short story, the Southern writer exposes two of her major preoccupations about religion:

- The conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism

- The revelation of Christ's grace in the main characters

These aspects of the religious theme are especially important in the development of the plot of "Greenleaf."

The tension between Mrs. May and the Greenleafs symbolizes the conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism. Mrs. May embodies all the features of American Protestantism. She is morally smug and she believes that she has within herself everything she needs to be "good" and respectable person. Mrs. May thinks that she can control her destiny. But the author considers that this is not a proper relationship with God.

On...