A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor: Controversy about Discipline

There is a little controversy about the discipline that children tend to display these days versus when their parents and grandparents were growing up and I think that O’Connor was showing or describing a little bit of that when she introduced the children into her story, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” While reading the story I was immediately drawn to the grandmother because of course she seems to be the main character in her story, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” Then as I read on I became embarrassed by the children, their attitude toward adults and the lack of respect they showed to any adults. The children first showed disrespect for their grandmother when she wanted to go somewhere different, “If you don’t want to go to Florida, why don’t cha stay at home?” John Wesley comments, June Star made the comment, “She wouldn’t stay at home to be queen for a day,” “She wouldn’t stay at home for a million bucks,” she continued by saying, “Afraid she’d miss something. She has to go everywhere we go.” Why couldn’t they enjoy the fact that they have a grandmother and enjoy the time that they have? While traveling the children continued to be consumed in their own world and had no concern or need for any one. When they were in the rest stop June Star showed no respect for the woman who was offering her a compliment, “Ain’t she cute?” Red Sam’s wife said, “Would you like to come be my little girl?” and what was her response, “No, I certainly wouldn’t,” June Star said. “I wouldn’t live in a broken- down place like this for a million bucks!” you could tell the only one that was embarrassed was the grandmother. The only time that either child showed any interest in what their grandmother wanted to do, was when she made up the story about the house with the secret panel and when the father gave in to them they were all finally interested in something she had to say. Even when the misfit stood with a gun they continued to show the criminals with