A Good Man Is Hard To Find Character Analysis Essay
Rebecca Levengood
Prof. Resente
English 102 ONL15
November 12, 2015
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find”: Flannery O’Connor’s Use of Characterization
“A Good Man is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor, is a detailed account of a family trip to Florida that ends in tragedy. On this journey, the family meets several different characters along the way. No matter how insignificant each character is O’Connor is sure to give the reader a full understanding of their intentions and personality. Although the reader never gets to know some of the characters names, O’Connor is sure to make the reader feel as though he knows each character personally. O’Connor uses characterization techniques such as actions, clothing and family life that allow the reader to …show more content…
For instance during this conversation she exclaims, "Jesus!" the old lady cried. "You've got good blood! I know you wouldn't shoot a lady! I know you come from nice people! Pray! Jesus, you ought not to shoot a lady. I'll give you all the money I've got!" (O’Connor 715). The reader begins to feel as though this is just simply a poor old woman on the verge of a breakdown. Finally the use of actions to determine the Misfit’s characterization is very different from the rest of the characters. Stephen Bandy in his article "`One of My Babies': The Misfit and the Grandmother" states that “Although the Misfit is not physically present until the final pages, his influence hangs over the story almost from the beginning” (Bandy 107). The reader knows the misfit is not a “good man” by what the grandmother reads from the newspaper in the beginning of the story and also what is discussed throughout. This is also supported by the action of the Misfit having the whole family killed after the accident happened. However, at the end of the story we get a glimpse the opposite through the misfit’s actions. Margaret Earley Whitt, in her book Understanding Flannery O’Connor describes the Misfit’s
Prof. Resente
English 102 ONL15
November 12, 2015
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find”: Flannery O’Connor’s Use of Characterization
“A Good Man is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor, is a detailed account of a family trip to Florida that ends in tragedy. On this journey, the family meets several different characters along the way. No matter how insignificant each character is O’Connor is sure to give the reader a full understanding of their intentions and personality. Although the reader never gets to know some of the characters names, O’Connor is sure to make the reader feel as though he knows each character personally. O’Connor uses characterization techniques such as actions, clothing and family life that allow the reader to …show more content…
For instance during this conversation she exclaims, "Jesus!" the old lady cried. "You've got good blood! I know you wouldn't shoot a lady! I know you come from nice people! Pray! Jesus, you ought not to shoot a lady. I'll give you all the money I've got!" (O’Connor 715). The reader begins to feel as though this is just simply a poor old woman on the verge of a breakdown. Finally the use of actions to determine the Misfit’s characterization is very different from the rest of the characters. Stephen Bandy in his article "`One of My Babies': The Misfit and the Grandmother" states that “Although the Misfit is not physically present until the final pages, his influence hangs over the story almost from the beginning” (Bandy 107). The reader knows the misfit is not a “good man” by what the grandmother reads from the newspaper in the beginning of the story and also what is discussed throughout. This is also supported by the action of the Misfit having the whole family killed after the accident happened. However, at the end of the story we get a glimpse the opposite through the misfit’s actions. Margaret Earley Whitt, in her book Understanding Flannery O’Connor describes the Misfit’s