ing delusion about his imminent departure is completely snatched away when the doctor leans over his patient and ‘with deep satisfaction says, “You ain’t going to die Asbury.” Mrs Fox and Block then tip toe out of the room and as they leave, Mrs Fox comments to the doctor that Asbury must have drunk some unpasteurised milk while in New York. Even the barely perceptive reader should see here, the connection between the flouting of authority and its consequence. Asbury, now left alone in his room is hit with an awful truth; the shock of self-awareness. It suddenly becomes apparent to him that there IS a transcendental power, over which he has NO control, and the descending water stain on his bedroom wall and which has lately been bothering him, is used to symbolise the descent of the Holy Spirit. Self-awareness must precede any possibility of Asbury acquiring humility and humility is required before he can submit to the Will of God, but like all O’Connor stories, this one doesn’t go that far. But, if we had been able to look ahead, we may have seen Father Finn return and explain to Asbury the time honoured Catholic practice of the regular examination of his conscience, to discover what he’s done wrong and where he’s gone wrong. We do know from the story that before his illness was diagnosed, Asbury was obsessed with the regular examination of every one else’s conscience, especially those of his mother and sister. The Enduring Chill is actually another slant on the theme of “returning home,” in both the real and the metaphoric sense. It is about a ‘wake up call’, and, like all of us, Asbury is another “Prodigal Son” (or daughter), and his anger with the world is that age-old conflict between Authority and Pride: i.e. the mystery of the Creation and Christ’s redemption of Adam’s fallen race. In Christian parlance, obedience means ...
