Critical Analysis Of A Good Man Is Hard To Find

A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor challenges readers to look at life through a different lense and causes her audience to make connections to the modern world from the text. Throughout the entire story, O’Connor addresses issues that are still relevant to this day by thoroughly developing each character and using each character to bring up issues that are intriguing to the audience. A Good Man is Hard to Find is a story that challenges readers to make connections and think about the world through a different lense. These thought provoking qualities are the reasons why A Good Man is Hard to Find is a must read for readers of all ages.

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is the story of a family’s vacation tragically ended by The Misfit and his gang. On the way to their vacation spot in Florida, the Grandmother remembers a plantation in Georgia she used to visit when she was a young lady and desperately wants to see it. She tells her son, Bailey, what road it is on and everyone is excited to see it. After a while, the grandmother realizes that she was wrong about where the plantation was and becomes so upset at herself that she knocks things over in the car which causes a car accident. A passing car stops to help the family but the Grandmother realizes that one of the men is a murderer, nicknamed, The Misfit. While one of

In the O'Connor story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," Southern Gothic literature is portrayed. Southern Gothic literature paints a picture of what life was like in the "Old South" and also includes bizarre turns of events and outlandish characters. The grandmother, is the protagonist, and the main character of O'Connor's story, about a family that travel on a vacation together and lose their lives by "The Misfit," a random man on the side of the road. The grandmother, who remains unnamed for the duration of the story, demonstrates a "her way or the highway" type of personality. The family is going on vacation to Florida, but she has relatives she wants to visit in Tennessee. So, instead of just asking her son, Bailey, if they could go to Tennessee instead, she cleverly attempts to trick him by saying, "Here this fellow that calls himself The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida and you read here what it says he did to these people" (O'Connor). She then, continues her devious plot, by referring to the safety of Bailey's children, when she states, "I wouldn't take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn't answer to my conscience if I did" (O'Connor). That didn't go as planned, so she tries again, implying that it has nothing to do with her, but the kids have already been to Florida. Throughout the story, Bailey's mother continues the same type of tactics to get her way. For example, she mentions that, at the old house in Tennessee, "There was a secret panel in this house," she said craftily, not telling the truth but wishing that she were, "and the story went that all the family silver was hidden in it when Sherman came through but it was never found . . ." (O'Connor).

In the Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” we find out that the title indicates of what the story is about. The title actually came from the lyrics of a song written by Eddie Green in 1918. The title of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Conner is quite ironic really. The reader expects to eventually find a good man in the story, but is quite surprised at the ending of the story. The title "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is expressed clearly in this story by introducing a variety of male personalities that all have one thing in common; they are not truly good men.

In Flannery O'Connor's short story, "A Good Man is Hard to Find", a southern family is taking a vacation to Florida, but the real journey takes place inside the family's lives. One question that comes up in the story is what the definition of a good man is and how there is so few of them left in the world. Many of the characters in the story think of themselves as good people based on moral codes that they stand by. These moral codes are deeply flawed however, leaving each character blinded by their own self-righteousness.

The beginning of story takes place in Georgia, in the city where the family lives and then continues on as they start their road trip. Towards the second part of the story takes place in ditch due to the family’s car running off the road. The author and or character never tell us when it happened or what time of day it is. We just know from reading that there was no sun in the sky. We don’t really know the era of the story but as for different given details, I’m assuming that it’s no time before the 1940’s. It is stated that O’Connor wrote the story in 1953 which makes perfect sense anyway.

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” demonstrates an apocalyptic fictional story attempting to show readers a limitless need for God’s Mercy and presents the ultimate question of morality and human nature. O’Connor communicates her answer towards this subject by delineating the grandmother and the Misfit’s actions. O’Connor implies morality does not necessarily mean “good,” but is subjective from people to people. This defines classic literature by displaying a form of human condition and also creating consistence and continuance. This essay will analyze the development of the main characters, evaluate two important themes, and interpret the author’s craft/style.

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” tells a twisted story of a typical family going about a road trip embedded with ethical pit stops along the way. The story revolves around a cynical grandmother and how her unconventional attitude and habits set the stage for an interesting turn of events. Through manipulative antics, a prejudice character and an ironic story line, author Flannery O’Conner creates a captivating tale that shines a lights on readers’ own moral codes. The author does this by making an example of a woman completely unaware of her own immoral acts.

After reading both “The Necklace” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, a reader might make the assumption that these two pieces of fictional literature, have nothing at all to do with each other. I would then make the argument that there are a few reasons why this reader made the mistake of thinking these stories were nothing alike. As one truly sees the messages that both authors are trying to convey, their points of view may change based on the similarities (and differences) between the main characters, and the message each story tries to convey. To begin with, if a reader is reading these stories back to back for the first time, it is easy to shut his book, and come to the conclusion, that the yearning protagonists of both stories were “doomed”

When first reading Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” the ending is unpredictable. However, when reading the story for a second time one can see how the themes play a major role in the ending. The grandmother seems to be prepared for her death. While reading the story one may notice that the grandmother is not truly ready for her death until the moment before the story ends. The tone and the themes in the story help to tie it together. The grandmother brings up the Misfit multiple times throughout the story, almost as if she was prescient and knew she was going to encounter him at one point.

Subject to Change In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the grandmother has a major life-changing moment. She is a major yet relatively static character up until the end of the story, having her epiphany and change of heart moments prior to being shot (Mays 122). She spends the majority of the story being a selfish, manipulative old woman. The grandmother is so caught up in being considered a lady she forgets what actual “grace” is - grace that she’s been preaching to The Misfit up until the end of the story.

In O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the setting contributes to the reader's understanding of Bailey's out of tune family. We can assume the story took place in the post-war mid century era given the fact that O’Connor wrote this story in 1953 and when the grandmother says, “the way Europe acted you would think we were made of money” (O’Connor). During the 1940’s and 1950’s the backbone of the American dream was “hard work, family values, and hope” (Desmond). Families from back then were big on respect and took family time seriously. When comparing a traditional mid century family to Bailey's family there is a distinct difference that allows us to label them as a dysfunctional family. Although we do not get a look into the family's work ethic, we do get a close enough look to see their lack of family values. Throughout the story there are several times where the family reveals that they are clearly flawed with the words they choose to say or simply with their actions.

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find’ tells of a seemingly normal family with a bit of dysfunction. Throughout this tale, the author fabricates a number of characters, some inconsiderable, others full of depth and history that present themselves wildly open to interpretation. Looking into O’Connor’s past, it is clear to see her relationship with a number of these fictional minds and pull from these the meaning behind her hidden pain and anguish. We are therefore presented with a mother and sons family who are prisoners in a manipulative, destructive relationship.

In the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” the author, Flannery O’Connor communicates literary symbols and prominence of Southern culture. Within the story, there are subtle yet important details that make the entirety of the piece as iconic as it is. The reoccurring theme of being a lady and moral codes both are important to the overall concept of the story.

The Story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor takes place in the south; in Georgia to be exact. It falls into the Southern Gothic genre. It begins with a family that is attempting to make their journey down to Florida for vacation. Throughout the journey the Grandmother is trying to persuade her son, Bailey, that it would be a better idea to go to Tennessee. She wanted to go there so that she would be able to see family. She had also come up with the perfect excuse because there was a person, “The Misfit”, who had escaped from a correctional institute and headed south. As the story progresses, you soon are shown how rude the children actually are. They constantly say things that they honestly feel, even if they knew that it might hurt somebody’s feelings. O’Connor also really pushes this point by overstating certain traits of people that make them different.