Disturbing symbolic story. I think it's about twisted beliefs and how it destroys lives. Tarwater, the young and old and rayber too had wrong beliefs about Christianity. And the church scene with the little girl. I'm sure that kind of thing went on. There's so much false in this world, so maybe that is what flannery was playing on. But I think each person represented an idea or construct. I listened to it while cracking pecans which seemed best way.