A good man is hard to find the Essay Example For Students

A good man is hard to find the Essay A Good Man is Hard to Find: The Grandmothers Grace Flannery OConnors A Good Man is Hard to Find tells the metaphorical tale of a familys fatal confrontation with The Misfit, an escaped serial killer. The incidents and characters throughout the story are aspects of a plot intending to symbolize the spiritual grace passed from one human to another, without regard for kindness or evil. The prominent character in OConnors story is the grandmother, who embodies this grace. By including imperfections in the development of the grandmothers character, OConnor shows the indiscriminatory property of grace she possesses. The grandmother is the most developed character of the story. She contains several traits that coincide with the stereotypical elderly southern woman. Some of her notions are bizarre and trivial, and ignored by her family, such as the possible attack by The Misfit, a trip to Tennessee instead of Florida, and a fear of feline asphyxiation. John Wesley and June Star have little if any respect for their paternal grandmother. She has to go everywhere we go, whines June Star (194). The grandmother also dresses immaculately, even for a car trip, simply because in an accident anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady (194). She calls attention to pointless details such as mileage, the speed of the car, and scenic road-side attractions. Also typical, the grandmother holds a deep appreciation for incidents which are of no value to others, such as the beauty of the landscape, respect for elders, and courting rituals during her childhood. The character traits of the grandmother are in no way ideal. Not only is she random and frivolous, but she also demonstrates hypocrisy and manipulation. Arent you ashamed? she asks when June Star insults the owner of Red Sammys Barbecue (196), but experiences no personal shame at all in stating that Little niggers in the country dont have things like we do (195). The grandmother knows there is no secret compartment in the house she wishes to visit, yet she tells the children this compartment exists in order to convince Bailey into stopping. The familys inevitable demise originates when the grandmother sets them on the road to see this mysterious house, which begins the set-up for the spiritually symbolic interpretation of the story. Upon meeting The Misfit, communication is almost solely between The Misfit and the grandmother. The grandmother shrieks, Youre The Misfit!I recognized you at once to which The Misfit replies, It would have been better for all you of you, lady, if you hadnt of reckernized me (199). Without regard for her family, the grandmother thinks first of herself, crying, You wouldnt shoot a lady, would you? (199). As she converses with The Misfit, she learns of his decent parents and good up-bringing, and can therefore categorize him as a a good man despite the fact that he has killed innocent people. Throughout the conversation, despite the death of her family, the grandmother discovers The Misfit was arrested for a crime he might not have committed, and begins to interrogate him on his spiritual practices. She asks him if he prays and advises prayer as a method for his salvation. Near this point in the story the feeling of the conversation turns from the grandmother attempting to save her own life to a genuine interest in the man before her. As her family members are killed one by one, they become less important to the story which becomes intensely focused on the interaction between The Misfit and the grandmother. The grandmother learns that The Misfit does not fit into her mold of an ideal Christian. .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 , .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .postImageUrl , .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 , .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:hover , .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:visited , .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:active { border:0!important; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:active , .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4 .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ub1b9bcff947eb7e2d68e5e8d2dafe6d4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Chemistry planning and designing lab Essay He does not pray, and he is also confused in his own personal beliefs. He believes Jesus disturbed universal natural balance by raising the dead; this act forces humanity to either throw away everything and follow him (203), or otherwise it denies his existence. With these beliefs directly contrasting the grandmothers, and the intensity of the situation, she begins to feel dizzy. As The Misfits voice cracks, and he shows a glimpse of raw emotion, the grandmother has her moment of grace. Youre one of my .