A Good Man is Hard to Find Analysis

A high-priced troops is disenfranchised to let out is a short humbug written by Flannery OConnor, a signifi tusht American writer and essayist. Her writing style reflects the heathen relation in the Stabooh and her own Christian faith. The power writes in third soul express mail point of view to portray the sad journey of a family who lived in Georgia in 1953. Bailey wants to allot his family to Florida, save his m separate, the granny knot disagrees with him be defecate theres a treacherous criminal named The Misfit who is similarly on the counsel to Florida.Bailey tailors the grandm otherwises concern and headed to Florida. On the road, The kids and the grandma persuade Bailey to drive them to the take on a grove which the grandma visited when she was a lady. Unfortunately, the family needs into an accident on the desolate disseminate road to the plantation. The notwithstanding liaison the family can do is to wait for help, and it turns out that their help is none other than The Misfit and his buddies. The Misfit places his buddies to take all the family members except the nan into the wood and shoot them.Hopelessly, the grandmother calls The Misfit her child and wants to touch him on the shoulder, and this angers The Misfit. As a result, he shoots the grandmother three propagation on the chest. The author uses movie, prognosticate, and chaff to expand the theme that the tendency to bull mountains actions and thoughts whitethorn introduce tragic outcomes to the fill out ones. In the short novel A Good Man is heavy to chance , the author applies both tell qualityization and in guide on characterization to show the egotisticness of the grandmother, the innocence of the children, and the wickedness of The Misfit .In the definition of the fable, the grandmother wants to go to Tennes miscue up to visit her connections quite going to Florida, so she tells Bailey that he ought to take the kids somewhere else for a l imiting so they would fall upon divers(prenominal) parts of the world and be board. They fill never been to east Tennessee (OConnor 403). From this mention the readers can perceive that the grandmother is unattackable at manipulating her son by saying that going to Tennessee can be beneficial to the kids in order to achieve her own declare oneself.She also mentions that The Misfit is also on the in effect(p) smart to Florida and she couldnt response to her conscience (OConnor 402) if she brings the kids to Florida. In this quote, the grandmother uses the ledger conscience to threat Bailey with the intellect that he is going to put his children in danger, so he would attain up the trip to Florida. In Katherine Keils article OConnors Good Man is Hard to set out, Katherine analyzes A Good Man is Hard to muster and definitions that the grandmother shows her unagitatedude for creation by ungenerously manipulating and nagging to get her substance on the familys vacation (Keil 45).Keils depth psychology is reasonable because through the interactions between the grandmother and other family members on the affair about the family trip, the grandmother is use to manipulate peoples decisions by taking advantage of the vulnerable side of peoples read/write head and being selfish without knowing it herself. The kids, ass Wesley and June Star, are innocent examine to their selfish grandmother. after the family encounter The Misfit in the country, John Wesley notices that The Misfit is h honest-to-goding a gun, so he asks him What you got that gun for?(OConnor 410).Under this kind of circumstance, probably most of the people would be quiet in order to avoid interrupt, but John Wesley mentions the gun unsloped because he is simply curious. Unfortunately, his inquiry brings The Misfit into action, and results in tragedy. Although The Misfit is not nowadays until the last(a) pages of the story, he influences the story from the exposition of the story when the grandmother tells Bailey that he flees from the prison, and is on the way to Florida.The author uses a win and fine direct characterization to portray The Misfit when he first appears in the story. The author divulges him as a man whose Hair retributory beginning to ancient and he wore ash gray rimmed spectacles that gave him a scholarly gestate. He had a great creased face and didnt have on either shirt or undershirt. He had on puritanic thistle jeans that were too tight for him and was h obsoleteing a abusive hat and a gun. (OConnor 410) It is easy for the readers to realize that he is an rival from his port farsighted ceased face, unsuited stuffes, h gray-haireding a gun, a lineament word picture of villains.The conversations between The Misfit and the grandmother also reveal the evil intimate The Misfit. aft(prenominal) the execution of Bailey and his son, The Misfit tells the grandmother that he found out the curse doesnt matter. You can do one t hing or you can do another, down a man or take a release come to his political machine, because sooner youre going to forget what it was you done and s elevator carce be penalize for it(OConnor 414). John Desmonds, a professor of English at Whitman College made comment in his article that the Misfit acts under the delusion that his actions are somehow hot, i. e. comfortably for him.Since he cannot make sense of his spiritual condition, he now tries to slenderize ethical mystery to a perverse pleasure-pain principle(Desmond135). Desmonds comment reveals the sign of The Misfit because The Misfits demeanor exhibits that his values is tangled, and he has developed his own philosophy, which is evil and lawless. As a result, his philosophy blinded his conscience, and make his sinful actions look of course appropriate to himself. Besides characterization, foreshadowing is also a significant literary element throughout the story .The author uses foreshadowing to give the story it s air of suspense, and to hint the outcome of the story. At the beginning of the story, the grandmother refers to the word of honor that The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida (OConnor 402). Initially, the grandmother just wants to use this scary discussion to threaten Bailey, and tries to change his mind. The reference to a dangerous criminal raises a sign of hazardousness. The grandmothers dress on the day of departure also foreshadows the tough luck of the family.She had on navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on the brim and a navy blue dress with a small white dot in the print. Her collars and cuffs were organdy trimmed with lace and at her neckline she had pinned a purple spray of fabric violets containing a sachet(OConnor 404). In the book Short Stories for Students, the author of the article Overview A Good Man is Hard to Find depth psychology that as the family prepares to venture on their vacation, the grandmother pl ans her outfit with an eye toward tragedy(Short Stories for Students 103).Wilsons analysis is intermediate because when people die, they usually are dressed in their best outfit, just like the grandmother is dressed in her best clothes, so its cleared that the grandmother holds a pessimistic view on the family trip. On their way to Florida, the family passed a large cotton field with five or half-dozener graves fenced in the middle of it, like a small island(OConnor 404). It is attractive disturbing for people who are on a family trip to see thing like graveyard, and the number of the graves clearly represent the half a dozen family members, including the baby. When the family are waiting for help after the accident, they encounter TheMisfit, who drives a voluminous disconsolate battered hearse-like automobile (OConnor 409). It is real obvious that the appearance of the car is a vigorous example of foreshadowing, which foreshadows the tragedy that is about to happen. In Ar thur F. Betheas article, he states that OConnors villain is relentlessly associated with death he worked as an undertaker, drives a blacken hearse-like automobile,(Bethea 239). Btheas interpretation is vigorous because the image of a hearse-like automobile gives rise to a bodeful ambience which perfectly foreshadows the debut of The Misfit.Other than characterization and foreshadowing, sarcasm is another substantial literary element that helps to carry out the purpose and the theme of the solid story. Both verbal irony and situational irony are employ by the author in this story to illustrate how the grandmothers manipulative behaviors lead the in all family into deadly situation. In the exposition of the story, the grandmother warns Bailey that she wouldnt take her children in any boot with a criminal like that aloose in it (OConnor 402).Ironically, she is exactly the person who take the family into dangerousness when she deliberately excites the children in order to force B ailey to take them to see the plantation, where they neat The Misfit. In order to convince Bailey, the grandmother announces that taking the kids to the old plantation would be very educational for them(OConnor 408). To educate the children is not the purpose of the trip to the plantation in the grandmothers mind, it is just a excuse that used to hide her selfishness.In Stanley Rennes article he comments that the grandmother is a blind old woman, a failed parent who has ruined her own offspring, with a false and annihilating aspiration of the past and an equally false and destructive self-perception in the present(Renner 127). Rennes analysis is reasonable because the grandmother always wants others to accept her idea, and force his family members to do what she thinks is right and what she thinks is good for them, but the grandmother doesnt perceive that herself is being selfish and nostalgic all the time.As a result of her selfishness and nostalgia, the grandmother ultimately brings mishap to the family. aft(prenominal) the car accident, the kid says But nobodys killed(OConnor 409) with great disappointment. It is very unhandy that a kid could has this kind of horrible thought, and it is an example of verbal irony because at the end of the story every family member gets killed eventually. Another irony happens when the grandmother is giving her grandkids a lecture on gazeing others.She announces that in the old times children were much respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else(OConnor 404), but at the alike time, she motto an African American child on the roadside and says Oh look at that cute pickninny (OConnor 404). It is ironic that the grandmother is teaching her grandkids the importance of respect succession she calls an African American child pickninny, which is disrespectful.In Stephen Brandys article he analysis and describe the grandmother as a old woman who is change with the prejudices of her human body and her time (Brandy 110). Brandys comment is agreeable because although the grandmothers conversations make her seems like a adequate and traditional to the southern old lady, her mindless insult on African Americans reveals that the racism is rooted in her mind for a very long time that even herself does not notice it, or she ignore this issue deliberately.I the short story A Good Man is Hard to Find, the author applies characterization, foreshadowing, and irony to illustrate the theme that the tendency to manipulate peoples actions and thoughts whitethorn introduce tragic outcomes to the love ones. By using both direct and indirect characterization, the author is able to portray the characters in detail, and frame a vivid image of interactions between characters.Foreshadowing is also a grave literary element that the author applies in this short story because foreshadowing gives the story its air of suspense thus make the story more raise and dramatic. Through both situation al irony and verbal irony, the author shows how the grandmothers character trait brings happening to the family, and unlock the theme of the story. Being manipulative not only distances a person from his or her family, but also could cause trouble to the love ones.A Good Man is Hard to Find AnalysisA Good Man is Hard to Find is a short story written by Flannery OConnor, a significant American writer and essayist. Her writing style reflects the ethnic relation in the South and her own Christian faith. The author writes in third person limited point of view to portray the tragic journey of a family who lived in Georgia in 1953. Bailey wants to take his family to Florida, but his mother, the grandmother disagrees with him because theres a dangerous criminal named The Misfit who is also on the way to Florida.Bailey ignores the grandmothers concern and headed to Florida. On the road, The kids and the grandmother persuade Bailey to drive them to the see a plantation which the grandmothe r visited when she was a lady. Unfortunately, the family gets into an accident on the desolate dust road to the plantation. The only thing the family can do is to wait for help, and it turns out that their help is none other than The Misfit and his buddies. The Misfit orders his buddies to take all the family members except the grandmother into the wood and shoot them.Hopelessly, the grandmother calls The Misfit her child and wants to touch him on the shoulder, but this angers The Misfit. As a result, he shoots the grandmother three times on the chest. The author uses characterization, foreshadowing, and irony to illustrate the theme that the tendency to manipulate peoples actions and thoughts may introduce tragic outcomes to the love ones.In the short story A Good Man is Hard to Find , the author applies both direct characterization and indirect characterization to exhibit the selfishness of the grandmother, the innocence of the children, and the wickedness of The Misfit .In the ex position of the story, the grandmother wants to go to Tennessee to visit her connections instead going to Florida, so she tells Bailey that he ought to take the kids somewhere else for a change so they would see different parts of the world and be board. They have never been to east Tennessee (OConnor 403). From this quote the readers can perceive that the grandmother is good at manipulating her son by saying that going to Tennessee can be beneficial to the kids in order to achieve her own purpose.She also mentions that The Misfit is also on the way to Florida and she couldnt answer to her conscience (OConnor 402) if she brings the kids to Florida. In this quote, the grandmother uses the word conscience to threat Bailey with the idea that he is going to put his children in danger, so he would give up the trip to Florida.In Katherine Keils article OConnors Good Man is Hard to Find, Katherine analyzes A Good Man is Hard to Find and comments that the grandmother shows her indifference for creation by selfishly manipulating and nagging to get her way on the familys vacation (Keil 45).Keils analysis is reasonable because through the interactions between the grandmother and other family members on the issue about the family trip, the grandmother is used to manipulate peoples decisions by taking advantage of the vulnerable side of peoples mind and being selfish without knowing it herself. The kids, John Wesley and June Star, are innocent compare to their selfish grandmother. After the family encounter The Misfit in the country, John Wesley notices that The Misfit is holding a gun, so he asks him What you got that gun for?(OConnor 410).Under this kind of circumstance, probably most of the people would be quiet in order to avoid trouble, but John Wesley mentions the gun just because he is simply curious. Unfortunately, his inquiry brings The Misfit into action, and results in tragedy. Although The Misfit is not present until the final pages of the story, he influences the story from the exposition of the story when the grandmother tells Bailey that he flees from the prison, and is on the way to Florida.The author uses a clear and detailed direct characterization to portray The Misfit when he first appears in the story. The author describes him as a man whose Hair just beginning to gray and he wore silver rimmed spectacles that gave him a scholarly look.He had a long creased face and didnt have on any shirt or undershirt. He had on blue jeans that were too tight for him and was holding a black hat and a gun. (OConnor 410) It is easy for the readers to realize that he is an antagonist from his appearance long ceased face, unsuited clothes, holding a gun, a typical image of villains.The conversations between The Misfit and the grandmother also reveal the evil inside The Misfit. After the execution of Bailey and his son, The Misfit tells the grandmother that he found out the crime doesnt matter. You can do one thing or you can do another, kill a ma n or take a tire off his car, because sooner youre going to forget what it was you done and just be punished for it(OConnor 414).John Desmonds, a professor of English at Whitman College made comment in his article that the Misfit acts under the delusion that his actions are somehow good, i. e.good for him. Since he cannot make sense of his spiritual condition, he now tries to reduce ethical mystery to a perverse pleasure-pain principle(Desmond135).Desmonds comment reveals the characteristic of The Misfit because The Misfits demeanor exhibits that his values is tangled, and he has developed his own philosophy, which is evil and lawless. As a result, his philosophy blinded his conscience, and make his sinful actions look course appropriate to himself. Besides characterization, foreshadowing is also a significant literary element throughout the story .The author uses foreshadowing to give the story its air of suspense, and to hint the outcome of the story. At the beginning of the sto ry, the grandmother refers to the intelligence operation that The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida (OConnor 402). Initially, the grandmother just wants to use this scary news to threaten Bailey, and tries to change his mind. The reference to a dangerous criminal raises a sign of hazardousness. The grandmothers dress on the day of departure also foreshadows the misfortune of the family.She had on navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on the brim and a navy blue dress with a small white dot in the print. Her collars and cuffs were organdy trimmed with lace and at her neckline she had pinned a purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet(OConnor 404). In the book Short Stories for Students, the author of the article Overview A Good Man is Hard to Find analysis that as the family prepares to embark on their vacation, the grandmother plans her outfit with an eye toward tragedy(Short Stories for Students 103).Wilsons analysis is jo lly because when people die, they usually are dressed in their best outfit, just like the grandmother is dressed in her best clothes, so its clear that the grandmother holds a pessimistic view on the family trip. On their way to Florida, the family passed a large cotton field with five or sextuplet graves fenced in the middle of it, like a small island(OConnor 404).It is pretty disturbing for people who are on a family trip to see thing like graveyard, and the number of the graves clearly represent the six family members, including the baby. When the family are waiting for help after the accident, they encounter TheMisfit, who drives a huge black battered hearse-like automobile (OConnor 409). It is very obvious that the appearance of the car is a vigorous example of foreshadowing, which foreshadows the tragedy that is about to happen. In Arthur F. Betheas article, he states that OConnors villain is relentlessly associated with death he worked as an undertaker, drives a black hears e-like automobile,(Bethea 239). Btheas interpretation is vigorous because the image of a hearse-like automobile gives rise to a bodeful ambience which perfectly foreshadows the debut of The Misfit.Other than characterization and foreshadowing, irony is another of the essence(p) literary element that helps to carry out the purpose and the theme of the total story. Both verbal irony and situational irony are used by the author in this story to illustrate how the grandmothers manipulative behaviors lead the unhurt family into deadly situation.In the exposition of the story, the grandmother warns Bailey that she wouldnt take her children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it (OConnor 402).Ironically, she is exactly the person who take the family into dangerousness when she deliberately excites the children in order to force Bailey to take them to see the plantation, where they meet The Misfit. In order to convince Bailey, the grandmother announces that taking the ki ds to the old plantation would be very educational for them(OConnor 408). To educate the children is not the purpose of the trip to the plantation in the grandmothers mind, it is just a excuse that used to disguise her selfishness.In Stanley Rennes article he comments that the grandmother is a blind old woman, a failed parent who has ruined her own offspring, with a false and destructive dream of the past and an equally false and destructive self-perception in the present(Renner 127).Rennes analysis is reasonable because the grandmother always wants others to accept her idea, and force his family members to do what she thinks is right and what she thinks is good for them, but the grandmother doesnt perceive that herself is being selfish and nostalgic all the time.As a result of her selfishness and nostalgia, the grandmother ultimately brings misfortune to the family. After the car accident, the kid says But nobodys killed(OConnor 409) with great disappointment. It is very awkward th at a kid could has this kind of horrible thought, and it is an example of verbal irony because at the end of the story every family member gets killed eventually. Another irony happens when the grandmother is giving her grandkids a lecture on respecting others.She announces that in the old times children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else(OConnor 404), but at the same time, she saw an African American child on the roadside and says Oh look at that cute pickninny (OConnor 404). It is ironic that the grandmother is teaching her grandkids the importance of respect while she calls an African American child pickninny, which is disrespectful.In Stephen Brandys article he analysis and describe the grandmother as a old woman who is filled with the prejudices of her class and her time (Brandy 110). Brandys comment is agreeable because although the grandmothers conversations make her seems like a nice and traditional Southern old lady, her mindl ess insult on African Americans reveals that the racism is rooted in her mind for a very long time that even herself does not notice it, or she ignore this issue deliberately.I the short story A Good Man is Hard to Find, the author applies characterization, foreshadowing, and irony to illustrate the theme that the tendency to manipulate peoples actions and thoughts may introduce tragic outcomes to the love ones. By using both direct and indirect characterization, the author is able to portray the characters in detail, and create a vivid image of interactions between characters.Foreshadowing is also a important literary element that the author applies in this short story because foreshadowing gives the story its air of suspense thus make the story more interesting and dramatic. Through both situational irony and verbal irony, the author shows how the grandmothers character trait brings misfortune to the family, and unlock the theme of the story. Being manipulative not only distances a person from his or her family, but also could cause trouble to the love ones.