Week 8 – Melissa Cordero

When speaking about the interior of the story, I found it helpful to re-read and consider what was being displayed passed the dialogue.  Initially, I found the grandmother to be persuasive and charming and even harmless.  However, after reading the entire story, her so-called harmlessness is what lead to the demise of the entire family.  I went back to the beginning of the story, and realized her persuasive charm was more of manipulation all for self-serving purposes. For example, she insisted on visiting Tennessee over Florida and went as far as to try to scare her son using the escape of the Misfit from jail to instill fear in him. Also, using guilt by saying, “I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it. I couldn’t answer to my conscience if I did.” Her willingness to exploit her sons fears to get him to adhere to her wants, displays extreme selfishness and lack of consideration for her impact on him. Again, her responses seemed harmless during my first read because it is common for people to make comments like that.  Towards the middle of the story, when the grandmother told of the old house on a plantation with hidden silver in the wall panels, the way the children began to impose their wants onto the father, was very similar to how his mother treated him, only with less grace. It showed how her overbearing treatment of him turned Bailey into a push over even by his own children. On the surface the children just seemed like regular kids who, ” say the darndest things.” a bit rude but it isn’t uncommon for kids to test their parents, especially in public. Again, after re-reading the story and seeing beyond the surface of my first impression, towards the end when they ask the men about their guns, I saw the true affect of the lack of discipline. They felt entitled to speak at any moment, to anyone, about whatever they wanted.  Although the Misfit was an evil man, he did not hide behind a guise of a charming, well intentioned person with hidden agendas, like the Grandmother did. He was a fervent criminal who was firm in his convictions. Making him the most honest person in the story.  Which is such a strange description to give him, because I always associated honesty with morality. Although, if I let go of my judgements, he does in fact live by his principles. It’s a difficult thing to admit to when you first read the story because my first reaction is to separate good from bad so it did not allow me to see the short comings of anyone else. Not until I realized everyone else’s actions contributed to the tragedy.