What specific ideas did you come across in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” that you would have missed if you had not read the article by the author in Activity 1? If I had not read the article from “On Her Qwn Work”: The Element of Suspense in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (Flannery O’Connor), two specific ideas I would have miss are dishonesty and selfishness. The article makes me realizes that the grandmother is selfish and dishonest. The grandmother deceives her son by making her grandchildren believes there was a secret compartment with hidden treasures because her son did not want to stop at the plantation. Due to her dishonesty, her family was killed by the Misfits. She is trying to save herself from dying by telling the Misfits that he is a good man, since she realizes that he kills her family. The Misfit knows that he is a not good man. He eventually kills the grandmother.
Daily Archives: November 4, 2024
Reading the essay by Flannery O’ Conor before reading the actual story definitely helps widen your perspective of what the writer is trying to indirectly get us to understand when it comes to religion. If I’m being 100% transparent just like Flannery mentioned I would’ve definitely read it as a regular family of 6 who took a trip with their annoying grandmother to Florida that ended up getting murdered my a convict named the Misfit. Nevertheless, when you go back to the essay and compare it to the imagery within the story I can actually visualize what I’m reading as far as the grandmother not being ready for death even though she is sort of kind of preparing herself for it because she is becoming of age. I’ve managed to notice based on how she still tries to keep herself dressed to remain refined and superior, she continuously kept trying to manipulate her family to do what she wanted to do and not do things that they really wanted to do which drove them right to their death. Subsequently, when she goes more into detail and explains the significance of using violence in a story and the weight it carries to make you see a deeper meaning rather than just seeing it as violence helps dissect the main point of the story. “Violence is a force which can be used for good or evil, and among other things taken by it is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Flannery).
Flannery O’Connor’s article “On Her Own Work,” included in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” illuminates several important points that enhance the reader’s understanding. One specific idea is suspense, which is carefully developed through character interactions and a intense mood. This slow buildup of tension creates a sense of inevitable outcome that culminates in the pivotal encounter with the Misfit. O’Connor also highlights the complexity of her characters, especially the grandmother, who embodies contradictions. Her selfishness contrasts sharply with her vulnerable moments, making her both relatable and unsettling. The theme of moral ambiguity emerges as the Misfit’s philosophical beliefs challenge simplistic notions of good and evil. Additionally, O’Connor employs Southern Gothic influences, exploring complex themes like violence and redemption through grotesque characters and dark humor. The symbolic significance of objects and settings further enriches the story’s examination of identity and the search for meaning. These insights draw the reader deeper into the narrative.
