- Published: June 9, 2022
- Updated: June 9, 2022
- University / College: University of Waterloo
- Level: Undergraduate
- Language: English
- Downloads: 2
Supervisor’s due: Response to the story ‘ a good man is hard to find.’ The story pictures the outstanding short story anthologies by O’Connor. It is a perfect illustration of the literal power of combining both thematic materials with grotesque humor. The story illustrates a family vacation that eventually ends with a violent criminal encounter by “ Misfit”. Going by the illustration from the title, the men in the short story are sexist, short-tempered and murderers. The tragic Misfit character in the story eventually takes another turn to be a redemption story of the grandmother at the mercies of the violent criminal. Violence not only dominates grandmother’s good moments but also gives some hidden shadows behind the women treatment. The work by O’Connor briefly illustrates on the way women should act (O’Connor 692). Its conclusion focuses on the patriarchal suggestion on woman redemption that “ a woman can only be guided to redemption with the help of “ a good man” (O’Connor 678). There is a perception of woman’s overreliance on man by the description of the living conditions of the grandmother, “ Bailey was the only son she lived with” (O’Connor 678).
It is true that the importance of the spiritual events around the Misfit corresponds to those surrounding grandmother. Most people refocus on the salvation fulfillment in this story, but the authors main intention is to bring the message of the spiritual element in the story. The Misfit provides the appropriate role of spiritual power of God as he denounces and judges people who live on the ways of hell due to their materialistic and selfish nature (O’Connor 374). Upon the judgment, Misfit murders all the evil people though solemnity dominates him as given by the impression that Misfit took no real pleasure for his actions.
Works cited
OConnor, Flannery. ” A Good Man is Hard to Find.” The Art of the Short Story. Ed. Dana O’Connor. New York: Pearson, 2006. Print.