A Good Man is Hard to Find - Research Paper Example

A Good Man is Hard to Find The short story, A Good Man is Hard to Find, is written by Flannery O’Connor. The book was written in 1953. The story, A Good Man is Hard to Find is found in the compilation of short stories, A Good Man is Hard to Find. A number of readers may think it is a contemptuous story, adamant in the manner in which it brings out human manipulation and pettiness. Other people see it as a horror story, while other people see it as an uplifting representation of the puzzling methods God uses to work through human beings above and over their own desires. Other individuals perceive all these occurring at once. This paper will look at how both the theme appears in the short story and how the theme appears in society. This is a short story that mainly makes people think about the probability of dramatic change in a person’s life. The old grandmother in the tale is seen as going through a miraculous and sudden change of heart after losing all members of her family and death herself. The old grandmother is tempted to kill the person who eliminated all her family members. Her actions raise a lot of questions; it is difficult to understand such an action (Bandy 113). One is not able to explain if the grandmother’s action can be understood religiously or otherwise. This also raises questions on how an extreme event can cause such a situation. It raises questions on whether such a situation can occur at all. A Good Man is Hard to Find begins with the old grandmother protesting to her son, Bailey that she wants to go to Tennessee and not Florida, for the family holiday. Nevertheless, the family has its holiday in Florida. The old grandmother shows her family members malice by having an early day and waiting for them in the car. The old grandmother has worn her best clothes for the trip. She is dressed in her Sunday best so that in case of an accident occurs and she becomes a casualty, she will be identified as a lady. The old grandmother talks about her young days and also comments on whatever they see on the way, during the trip to Florida (O'Connor 23). The old grandmother claims that, during her early days, young people showed more respect to their parents and their homes and individuals only indulged in respectable activities. She also comments on a little pickaninny gesturing from a shack’s door. She claims that the Pickaninny almost certainly does not possess any britches. The old grandmother has a conversation with the owner of an old diner in which they were having lunch. The two were talking about a murderer and escaped convict called The Misfit. Both the grandmother and Red Sammy, the owner of the diner agree that it is difficult to find a decent man (Connie 75). Later on, when the family is back on the road, the old grandmother tries to derail the family members from their Florida trip. She tells the children tales of a nearby home she had stayed at as a young person. The grandmother intrigues the children with her stories of the home until they demand to visit the place. The children persuade their father until he accepts to take them to grandmother’s destination. The old grandmother realizes the home she had visited is not in Georgia but Tennessee. This is after they have covered some distance towards the wrong direction. She becomes anxious, disturbs the cat, which is terrified, making the father lose control of the car and land in a trench below the road. After the accident, the old grandmother falsifies an internal harm to get sympathy from the family members. In contrast, the children are thrilled and perceive the accident as a quest. As the father, grandmother, and children are waiting for help, a car with three men, all with guns, approach the scene. One of the three men has glasses. He directs his accomplices to examine the car and engages the father, Bailey in courteous discussion. This is until the old grandmother recognizes him as The Misfit, the escaped convict and murderer. The Misfit directs his fellow criminals to kill the family members one at a time. The old grandmother pleads for her life by sweet-talking The Misfit. The Misfit takes no notice of the grandmother’s pleas. This makes her speechless, afraid and tries to behold about Jesus, this annoys The Misfit. He is annoyed with Jesus because there is no physical proof that He exists (Connie 76). This makes him have doubts about the authenticity of the Christian religion. The Misfit claims he is not interested in wasting his time waiting on a person who could not be in existence, nor does he want to annoy a supreme God who could be in existence. When the old grandmother tries to convince The Misfit that he is like her baby or child, he reacts and shoots her three times. The Misfit claims the old grandmother could have been a virtuous person if there were a person present to shoot her each minute of her existence. The Misfit claims there is no true pleasure in life. This is after his partner mentions the excitement they have had when killing the grandmother and family her members. From this perspective, it is evident that it is the violent treatment that genuinely converts the old grandmother, a spurious Christian. A decent woman or man is truly difficult to find. The final moments see the old grandmother humble herself (Ochshorn 117). This is after she recognizes that she is not better than The Misfit and his accomplices. The theme from the story relates to the current society in several ways. First, the final action of the old grandmother is one of charity and grace. The short story is created to highlight changes in the grandmother as the tale advances. In society, today, people are more interested about seeming like decent individuals instead of being virtuous people. Like the old grandmother who wants to have a vacation in Tennessee instead of Florida and also wants to save her own life while her family members are being killed, people want to engage in activities that suit their own interests. For example, a country may invade another powerless country with the aim of gaining resources while people are suffering. This means that persons are more worried about their wellbeing instead of the entire groups. The fact that the old grandmother tries to convince her killer not to kill her shows her final action of charity and grace (Bandy 117). This highlights the grandmother’s recently acquired redemption. Although the old grandmother fails, she in some way reaches out to her killer. Her killer asserts that she would have been a decent person if she was shot every time. This shows how people in society turn over a new leaf after or in the event of a misfortune. People tend to change their tendencies when something terrible occurs or is going to happen to them. On the other hand, those people who cause harm to others in the society, for example, The Misfit, presume their victims can change their behaviors form saddening situations. Second, it may be presumed that the grandmother has a lot of blemishes, but, unlike other family members, she attempts to be a decent individual. From the book, it is claimed that the grandmother uses her creativity to manipulate the children into wanting to visit the home. This indicates that for the old grandmother to get things done, she has to influence her family members even if she does not want to use manipulation. In addition, the old grandmother is the only adult in the family who disciplines and provides entertainment for the children. Similarly, in society today, there are individuals who have to influence others to get things done (Gretlund and Westarp 67). In addition, in many households it is not the parents who discipline or entertain the children. Both the role of entertainment and discipline has been left to other people. The theme presented in the story has not changed through history. Also, the theme does not differ by location, religion, or ethnicity. The story also portrays the theme in a realistic manner. This is because both the old grandmother and the escaped convict, The Misfit receive grace, despite their numerous weaknesses, sins, and flaws. Throughout history, there have been a number of individuals who have encountered similar situations like that of the old grandmother and The Misfit. The theme is also similar in every location, religion, or ethnicity. For example, the Christian teachings explain that human beings attain salvation through the favor or grace of God. It is presumed that God gives his favor or grace on every person; even those perceived to be the least deserving (Kilcourse 72). Similarly, every region or ethnic group permits favor to every individual. The story is also realistic, in that, despite the old grandmother being a terrible person; she still receives grace. Many times, when people perceived to be evil are dead or dying; they are treated with respect. Also, evil people reveal their moral side in times of trouble. Works Cited  Bandy, S. “One of my Babies: The Misfit and the Grandmother.” Studies in Short Fiction (1996). 107-117. Print. Connie, A. K. Critical Companion to Katelyn Smith. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2008. Print. Gretlund, N. G., and Westarp, K. Flannery O'Connor's Radical Reality. Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 2006. Print. Kilcourse, G. Flannery O'Connor's Religious Imagination: A World with Everything off Balance. New Jersey: Paulist Press. 2001. Print. Ochshorn, K. A Cloak of Grace: Contradictions in "A Good Man is Hard to Find", Studies in American Fiction (1990). 113-117. Print. O'Connor, F. A Good Man Is Hard To Find. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 1993. Print. Read More