Critical Analysis on "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"

Another virtue the grandmother lacks is courage. Courage is “The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger with self-possession, confidence and resolution” (Courage). When The Misfit arrives, the grandmother is nothing but a coward. She exhibits no self-possession, “Alone with The Misfit, the grandmother found that she had lost her voice” (O’ Connor 1116), displayed here when she can’t even speak. She also has no resolution to the situation but to give The Misfit her money, “‘I’ll give you all the money I’ve got!’” (O’ Connor

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.

The grandmother communicated the warning of the Misfit, but her activities itself were various signs of foreshadowing of the end approaching. The grandmother warned about the Misfit in the first paragraph of the story: "`Here this fellow calls himself the Misfit is loose from

Flannery O’Connor shows her readers a realistic look at their own mortality in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” The story is about a family of five, a father, mother, grandmother, and two children, starting out on a vacation to Florida from Georgia. The family, on their way to a routine vacation, takes a detour that will change their lives forever. Through the use of literary elements like symbolism and characterization, O’Connor creates a theme of good vs. evil, which can be felt throughout the story by tapping into the audience’s emotions.

A seemingly innocent family vacation can turn into a disaster if the members of the family only care about themselves. In the story “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” by Flannery O’Connor, a self-absorbed Grandmother, too consumed with her own opinions, fails to address the views, feelings and overall well being of others. Her family is not much different in their self-interested ways. This leads them straight to the Misfit whose childhood trauma has caused him to grow up into a damaged individual. The Misfit does not believe in the Grandmother’s religious beliefs and she ultimately cannot reach out and help him. The characters get themselves into a predicament for living in the Id

Ten years later, Flannery O'Connor explains her story in "A Reasonable Use of the Unreasonable." In this criticism, O'Connor says that the grandmother in this story has a transformation in her mind at the end which she noticed her mistake and is waiting for grace. I think there is another approach that the grandmother’s gesture does not show any regret; she tries to save her life the entire story. The grandmother has always been selfish during the whole trip and was emotionless on the death of her family.

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.

This way he knows what he has done and what he hasn't. He tells the grandmother this before killing her. The reason for doing this, in the Misfit's mind, is so that he can match up the crime with the punishment and see if they are right for each other. If they are not then you know that the system hasn't done their job correctly. He knows that his punishment is no mistake because he wrote down his actions. He respects the power of the words because they define what he does.

Flannery O’Connor gave a talk about “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” in 1963 at Hollins College, Virginia, which was published as the essay, “The Element of Suspense In ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find.’” In this

In the end the Misfit says "she would have been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life" (361). O 'Connor is trying to imply that there are ways to be protective through religion considering the grandma tried to save herself by preaching to the Misfit through Jesus. However, the grandma didn 't achieve this through her religious ways or beliefs, but in an intimate moment with reality. She is saved in her final moments of life and learns the difference between good and evil. Unfortunately, the grandmothers causes the death of her family and then herself, due to her own selfish self centered behavior. Flannery O 'Connor brings to the reader through symbolism of faith and death of the outside world through her feelings and beliefs about

The Misfit repeatedly refers to Jesus and his teachings, although he is far from a Godly man. He stated that only Jesus had ever brought back the dead and criticized him for doing so. For someone that does not go to church and has devoted his life to making bad decisions, he brings up GOD an awful lot. O’Connor uses him in a way to teach the Grandmother to be humble. At one point she is doubtful of her own faith that she feels sets her above everyone else. This is when the breakthrough happens and she realizes all are equal to the LORD. In a way he leads her to the light. This Misfit is also regretful of not being more Godly and wishes he could have witnessed one of HIS miracles. “‘Listen lady,’ he said in a high voice, ‘if I had been there I would of known and I wouldn’t be like I am now.’”(O’Connor 12) The Misfit shows a little remorse of turning out like he has. Before he kills the Grandmother, this is almost his reconciliation. He wants to be forgiven for his sins, but feels he cannot turn back. Although GOD will always let a person return to HIS light, the Misfit believes otherwise. In spite of pouring out his life’s story to

Questions 1. Does the grandmother uncover the newspaper that hides the cat in the valise on purpose? I am asking this question since the grandmother doesn’t want to get blame from her son as she comes to know that the old plantation isn’t in Georgia? 2. It is a little bit awkward that even though they know the Misfit is on the loose, they still decides to go on the trip anyway.

Equally important, the grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” has the outstanding transformative moment shown at the end of the story. After the grandmother and Bailey’s family have an accident, the Misfit comes and it seems like he and his friends will rescue them. Unfortunately, they come to kill them and all members in the family died except the grandmother. The grandmother’s transformative moment occurs when she meets the Misfit and he wants to kill her which this situation changes the perspective of grandmother to be a really kind woman. At first, the grandmother staunchly beliefs in God as her moral code like the grandmother says to the Misfit that “If you would prey, Jesus would help you.”

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.