Pride and selfishness are intense and insatiable desires that can never be fulfilled. These unquenchable needs can be demonstrated by the main characters in the short stories “The Necklace”, which exemplifies the destructiveness of pride and selfishness from a woman that feels entitled and desires what’s beyond her means and the grandmother in “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” that puts her needs before others at all costs. Although these two stories are completely different in ways that “The Necklace is written in an earlier time in Paris about a young couples difference in frugalness and “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” is written in a later date in the state of Georgia about a grandmother and her burden on her family, the two main characters share similar traits such as selfishness and pride. The grandmother in “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” remains nameless and is portrayed as a very old-fashioned, self-righteous woman that is, “Seizing every chance” (O’Connor 1) to manipulate those around her for her own selfish reasons. She lives with her only son and his family in a southern setting in Georgia. She has an immense amount of pride and considers herself morally superior to others. The grandmother views herself as a “Lady” which is how she manipulates her family to satisfy her own selfishness. However, her idea of being a “lady” is a very skewed image in the way that morally and consciously, she is quite the opposite. She feels that because she is a “Lady”, she has the authority
She was a lady through and through, so much that “In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady.” The irony of that quote is simply that it becomes factual. Flannery O’Connor really paints a vivid picture of how self absorbed this character is. The grandmother’s personality might play a role in her self-proclaimed aristocrat outlook on society but the way that she was raised probably had a much greater impact on the way she view things as proper and right. Flannery O’Connor wrote A Good Man is Hard to Find in the 1946. From this, readers can assume that the grandmother would have grown up before the time of the booming 1920’s. After the 1920’s, many women’s outlook on what was proper and acceptable was drastically changed. The grandmother saw this drastic change in the morality of the American Society, which could have given her the idea that she was a more proper and sophisticated lady then the younger people who had completely different views on what was deemed expectable. She was surrounded with people that she was much older than her, which could have also given her the thought that she was among the hierarchy. This is because of the time period that she was brought up, she may have felt it necessary for her to teach other people the ways that to days younger people seemed to have lost. One could see the influence that her
The leading lady in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is the bossy grandmother of a traditional, southern family. It is the grandmother’s “final encounter with the Misfit that changes her relations to the world” (Link, "Means, Meaning, and Mediated Space in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’"). Before her unexpected meeting with the Misfit, the grandmother feels above everyone else. She feels like she can talk
In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” the Grandmother is the protagonist. She is the focus of the narrative and the character whose reactions we encounter the most. More importantly, the third person narrative focuses strongly on the grandmother’s point of view, which establishes her in the reader’s mind much more than any other character. Nevertheless, the grandmother views herself as a rather dignified and traditional woman who appears to judge everyone, but manages to constantly overlook her own flaws. This appears various times such as when she conveys her ideas about the upcoming vacation and June Star states “She has to go everywhere we go” (O’Connor 567), in which merely displays the Grandmother as unwanted by the family. This can be compared to that of the Misfit in the story who also appears to be unwanted by his family. Despite this, the Grandmother continuously positions herself in the family’s everyday activities while imposing her judgment every chance she gets. Moreover, she is censorious of her son and daughter in law for not allowing their children to “see different parts of the world and be broad” (O’Connor 567). She is also critical of her grandchildren for not being like children “In my time” (O’Connor 569) who “were more respectful” (O’Connor 569). By doing this, O’Connor presents a strong characterization of the woman and her virtually unbreakable mindset. However, this story reflects on how through any conflict you can find the good in others, but sometimes it is too late for them to realize their own mistakes. Eventually, the Grandmother confronts evil in the form of The Misfit and seems to show a completely different side of
In "A Good Man Is Hard To Find", Grandmother is a deep religious character that gives the story a depth of interest. The reader gets the religious aspect of Grandmother through her actions such as her continually use of the word "Jesus", the conversation with the Misfit, and in the name of her grandson, John Wesley. Although, Grandmother is devoted to her faith, she fears
The grandmother, the main character of the story, is manipulative. Her definition of a ‘good man’ refers to the characteristics that a ‘good man’ should possess.
The grandmother from a Good Man is Hard to Find handles a revelation in her own way. The grandmother happens to be very judgmental throughout the story of people that are in a lower class than her and African Americans. Toward the end of the story she is trapped on the side of the road with her family after they have just experienced a car accident and the misfit along with his crew pulls over to help them. The grandmother eventually realizes who he is. When she realizes that she has nothing left to live for, she connects with another human being and considers the misfit as an equal. She does this by saying to the misfit, “Why you’re one of my babies. You’re one of my own children!” (377). The grandmother finally
The grandmother is the central character in the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor. She is also a very well rounded and dynamic character. She shows various characteristics and reveals various remarks as they story progresses. Some of her qualities include selfish and a pushy person. She is also kind of manipulator in a way that she insists her family to change the plan. At the beginning of the story when we first realize her desire to visit her childhood house, she is being a very selfish person. Examining her conversation with her son Bailey, the grandmother is moreover a pushy person. She is convincing Bailey to change the trip plan according to her need only and which will
In the short story, 'A Good Man is Hard to Find', the main character is the grandmother. Flannery O'Connor, the author, lets the reader find out who the grandmother is by her conversations and reactions to the other characters in the story. The grandmother is the most important character in the story because she has a main role in the stories principal action. This little old lady is the protagonist in this piece. We learn more about her from her direct conversation with the son, Bailey, her grandchildren, June Star and John Wesley, and the Misfit killer. Through these conversations, we know that she is a lady raised from a traditional background. In the story, her attitude changes
Around the world, values are expressed differently. Some people think that life is about the little things that make them happy. Others feel the opposite way and that expenses are the way to live. In Guy de Maupassant’s short story, “The Necklace”, he develops a character, Madame Loisel, who illustrates her different style of assessments. Madame Loisel, a beautiful woman, lives in a wonderful home with all the necessary supplies needed to live. However, she is very unhappy with her life. She feels she deserves a much more expensive and materialistic life than what she has. After pitying herself for not being the richest of her friends, she goes out and borrows a beautiful necklace from an ally. But as she
‘The Necklace’ is a morality tale written by Guy de Maupassant where he portrays the life of a beautiful but dissatisfied girl named Mathilde who desires to live a luxurious life despite being born into a clerk’s family and marrying a clerk too. Mathilde’s discontentment in life instigates her to pretend someone rich that she is not. Moreover, it leads her to severe trouble that caused ten years of hardship to Mathilde and her husband. So, this suffering is a punishment for Mathilde which taught her a lesson and changed her dramatically over the course of the story by making her a person of completely different personality for whom appearances
As discussed earlier, Southern Gothic includes irrational, evil, and horrific thoughts, many which seem to contradict one another without a deeper look into their true meaning. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a story seemingly fully made with these contradictions and examples of Southern Gothic literature. This is mostly seen through the behavior of the Grandmother. Throughout the beginning of the story, she almost makes herself appear a protagonist and reveals her cruel selfishness. The Grandmother even accused her own son, Bailey, of putting his own kids in danger just to get him to change his mind for her own personal gain (O’Connor 5). Furthermore, the Grandmother makes racist comments regarding a black child to her grandchildren in the car (O’Connor 10). Ironically, the Grandmother sees herself as “a valiant defender on social decorum in a world of barbarians” (Bandy 114). Once faced with the potential of death at the hands of the Misfit, the Grandmother’s tune changes to her religious beliefs and tries to convince the bandit of her way of moral thinking (O’Connor 28). Bandy continues and accuses the Grandmother of this hypocrisy by stating that the Misfit has given a greater deal of thought into Jesus than she ever has (114). These extreme examples of good and evil through the Grandmother’s journey in this story do not seek to explain or answer the hypocrisy we all share, but solely to show the tragic reality of the human condition in a uniquely Southern Gothic
“She so much longed to please, be envied, be fascinating and sought after” (de Maupassant 67). The main character desires to be at the center of attention, she wants to be coveted by others. In his fictional short story titled, “The Necklace,” Guy de Maupassant writes about how the lusting for more may cause people to be blinded and unable to see/value the treasures they already have. The story begins with an introduction of a lady who daydreams about the happiness that materialistic yearnings can bring her, forgetting her situation and social class. After taking her husband’s recommendation to borrow jewelry, specifically a diamond necklace, from her close friend Madame Forestier to wear alongside her dress at the evening reception, the main character later discovers that she had lost the necklace. Following their failure to find the necklace, Madame and Monsieur Loisel devise a plan to borrow money to replace the necklace with another and in doing so, fall into years of debt. Moreover, Maupassant uses direct characterization, imagery and situational irony to further depict why you should be grateful for what you already have before it’s too late.
“The Necklace” Literary Analysis “In the last few years, the very idea of telling the truth […] is dredged up only as a final resort when the alternative options of deception, threat and bribery have all been exhausted.” Michael Musto, a journalist, columnist, and author, understood many people tell the truth when all other options are unavailable. In “The Necklace”, a short fictional story written by Guy de Maupassant, a similar situation occurs. Characters are given the opportunity to speak the unvarnished truth; however, they choose a contrasting route. Essentially, Guy de Maupassant utilizes characterization, conflict, and irony to develop the theme, honesty is the best policy which, in turn, showcases itself throughout the story.
"We want what we can't have": This renowned adage has been the cold reply of many parents to their sobbing children as they walk out of the toy store. At the time, the heartbroken children might not fully grasp the words of their parents, but as they grow up they will understand that the well known adage holds true to its meaning. Almost everybody has experienced this feeling, whether it is as young children or as wise adults. Examples of this noted proverb is evident both in print and on screen. Now, since this is the case with most people around the world, it is not difficult to see how this byword applies to Guy de Maupassant's short story "The Necklace." Its protagonist, Mathilde Loisel, longing for a lavish lifestyle rather than
Almost every person has denied the existence or occurrence of an idea or event at some point in their life. It is this characteristic of denying the truth as well as seeking self-gratification that leads to one’s ultimate downfall. Similarly, Mrs. Loisel, in The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant, lives a modest lifestyle, constantly dreaming of a life far more luxurious than the one she currently lives. After being invited to a grand ball, she borrows a necklace from a wealthy friend, enjoys the evening as an equal to those attending the party, and wishes to continue living lavishly even after it ends. However, after losing the “diamond” necklace, Mrs. Loisel is spiraled into a debt that she aims to hopelessly recover from over the period of ten years, ultimately being her downfall. Mrs. Loisel denies the fact that one lavish party will not satisfy her desire to be wealthy and gives into her Id, self-serving desire for luxury, as well as seeks the pleasure principle in achieving instant gratification without considering its consequences.