Prompt: 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? To submit your post, follow the steps below. 1. Scroll up to the black strip at the top of the screen and click the black “plus” sign inside the white circle. It is located to the right of the course title. 2. In the box that reads “Add title,” type in a title that includes your first name, last name, and the words “Discussion 9 (example: John Hart Discussion 9). 3. Type your response in the text box. Remember that your first post must be at least 150 words in order to receive full credit. 4. Navigate to the right side of the screen and choose the Post Category “Week 3 Discussion.” DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING UNDER THE BOX THAT READS “CATEGORY STICK.” LEAVE THAT AS IT. (It will read “Select Category.”) 5. Publish the post by clicking the blue button on the right. 6. Please leave a thoughtful reply to the post of one other classmate. Remember that your comments to others should be at least 75 words in order to receive full credit.
Week 9 Discussion
Reading Flannery O’Connor’s The Element of Suspense really helped me catch things in A Good Man Is Hard to Find that I might’ve missed otherwise. For one, O’Connor used suspense to show the grandmother’s hypocrisy and self-deception. The way she manipulated her son and his family to get her way had me unsure of how things would turn out. Her self-righteous attitude was another layer she dressed like a “lady,” but it was just for show because, deep down, she was prejudiced and dishonest. The suspense got even deeper when “The Misfit” showed up after the accident. His talk about religion and his memory lapse about why he was imprisoned brought up some big questions about justice and punishment. It felt like he was wrestling with his own humanity, especially in his conversation with the grandmother. The ending was classic but unexpected, violent, and grotesque. It really hit home how brutal and complicated human nature can be, and how she uses those shocking moments to make her readers think. Without her insights on suspense, I don’t think I would’ve noticed how these elements worked together to make the story so intense.
I believe that if I hadn’t read Flannery O’Connor’s article, I wouldn’t have gained a deeper understanding of A Good Man Is Hard to Find. The article reveals the darker aspects of human nature and the complexity of the grandmother’s character.
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.
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.
In “ Good man is hard to find”, by Flannery o’Conner explores the themes of mortality, family dynamics and the concept of grace. With the whole story of the protagonist (the grandmother) was mainly prioritizing her selfishness and manipulation including her desires over the family needs. Her interactions also highlighted the tensions within the family and revealing the deeper issues of communication and understanding. Which made me question a lot about the grandmother as I continued reading the story. But the main encounter was with the misfit that served as a critical turning point and emphasizing the conflict between good and evil. O’Conner’s uses of violence forces a moment of existential reckoning and illustrating that true grace often emerges in the face of despair. Including that with the grandmother’s final act of compassion. Had suggested to me as the reader as a glimpse of redemption. Therefore overall O’Conner intricately weaves these themes of confront the complexities of human nature and the search for genuine goodness.
Reading Flannery O’Connor’s article from Activity 1 really opened my eyes to the deeper themes and complexities in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” that I might have missed otherwise. O’Connor’s insights show how she skillfully builds tension through the interactions between characters, making the grandmother come off as both flawed and relatable. Her manipulative behavior, fueled by a need for validation, highlights important themes of morality and grace. O’Connor’s focus on foreshadowing adds suspense, with subtle hints pointing to the family’s tragic end, pushing readers to think about the characters’ motivations. The article emphasizes how O’Connor uses these techniques not just to engage readers, but to encourage some serious moral reflection. Plus, her use of dark humor and violence adds another layer to understanding the story’s themes. Moments like the grandmother’s last gesture towards The Misfit hint at grace and the chance for redemption. Without O’Connor’s thorough analysis, the complexity of the characters and the rich narrative might not have stood out as much, making the reading experience even more rewarding while highlighting her themes of human nature, morality, and grace.
Grandma, from “A Good Man is Hard to Find” can be seen through the lenses as a neutral character. At the beginning she was being passively racist. She was talking to her children at the highway as she tempted to tell them that is now how African Americans dress like at her time; she explained it in a way she feels she wants their close people to understand her linguistics while using defamatory language to her kids. Modern day parents would take this as an excuse that I justify her bad tongue as a “good saint”. However, I feel that there are more differing sides to every story than only the good side and the bad side. Grandma had tried to help the man to see the light of God to; to bless him. Even if she failed to find the good man in the criminal, her intentions of showing him that there is more to life than loosing that chance to be good gave her a chance to express the morals to be better.
In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the author’s piece reveals a number of levels that strengthen one’s understanding of the narrative. While the grandmother’s last moments highlight the chance of forgiveness and cleansing, her portrayal as manipulative and selfish emphasizes issues of lying and moral insecurity. Southern Gothic details like ethics and decaying add to the story’s mood, and the family dynamics study shows how the grandmother’s actions cause conflict and detachment within the family. Furthermore, O’Connor’s use of sarcasm and prediction gives confusion, demonstrating that her story is an in-depth investigation of human weaknesses and the possibility of forgiveness rather than simply a straightforward story.
These are the specific ideas I made a connection with In a Good Man is Hard to find that came about from my reading Flannery O’ Conner’s On Her own work, The Element of Suspense: She used suspense to highlight the hypocrisy and self deception that was shown by the grand mother. The way she manipulated her son and his family into doing what she wanted so much so that I was uncertain of what the outcome would be. Another complex idea is the character flaw in the grandmother of being so self righteous, she dressed to appear as a lady but that was just a facade. Inside she was prejudiced and dishonest. I was taken even further into suspense when deep question surrounding the humanity of “The Misfit” when they arrived on the scene of the accident. The talk of religion , he had a memory lapse where he could not remember what led to his incarceration. In fact his conversation with the grandmother appeared to be grappling with the nature of justice and punishment. The climax of this story is true to O’ Conner style where she engages her readers in a climax where an action can be expected or unexpected. The violence and grotesque ending brought to light the harsh realities of the human nature.
One key insight from O’Connor’s analysis is how effectively she builds tension through the complex interactions of her characters. Their actions and motivations reveal important themes of morality, grace, and human nature. The grandmother stands out as a flawed yet compelling figure; her manipulative behavior reflects her need for affection and validation, creating a character that elicits sympathy and criticism. This complexity, which I might have previously missed, is highlighted by O’Connor’s sharp observations and storytelling. You also get a better insight by listening to the author’s audio of the story. O’Connor’s use of foreshadowing hints the narrative creates a sense of impending doom. These clues prompt readers to examine the characters’ fates more closely, adding suspense to the story. Her insights also encourage readers to confront their biases and explore the characters’ motivations, enhancing tension and understanding of human nature and moral dilemmas. These elements enhance the reading experience, leaving a lasting impression. A key theme is the intentional use of suspense throughout the narrative. O’Connor illustrates how suspense not only captivates the reader but also unveils deeper themes concerning morality and the complexities of human nature. The strain in the grandmother’s relationships with her family and her eventual meeting with the Misfits highlights life’s unpredictability and the complex dynamics of human connections.
The article from Flannery O’Connor, on her own story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” had one detail I didn’t think about regarding the Grandmother. She may be considered a bad person, even I considered her one, but she isn’t completely one. O’Connor mentions a time when a teacher was pushing the narrative that the Grandmother was a bad person. At her core, she is a good person but can’t understand some things, just like some older people now. It took her getting to what ended up being the end of her life to make a character-changing realization about her morals, but when she did she spread it to the Misfit, who had a seed of doubt, in what he saw in himself, planted in his heart because of her. Her actions and views aren’t right in the slightest, but that still doesn’t make her an outright bad person (especially with the somewhat redemption by the end).
The title ‘A Good Man is Hard to Find’ had me thinking I was going to read a story about a woman trying to find a man. Not realizing that “man” refers to a person or people in general. There was also some indication that the grandmother was a witch (and her cat) which I don’t think I would have gotten from the story at all. The grandmother was most definitely not a hero in this story. She was a master manipulator and extremely selfish. I was a little confused when she touched the Misfit on his shoulder saying that he was one of her children. She had spent the entire time trying to convince him that he was indeed good people. There was a battle of good and evil in this story and I believe that evil may have prevailed. I’m not sure how religious or spiritual the grandmother was. I think she was jus trying to talk herself out of being killed.
There were some ideas I came across in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” that I would have missed if I hadn’t read O’Connor’s article. Reading the article added more depth and allowed me to understand better the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” One of the themes she highlights in the article is the idea of redemption. The grandmother’s last act of reaching out to The Misfit, can be seen as a moment of grace, almost like her last and final attempt to find some kind of redemption, even in a dark situation. The author also talks about how she uses dark humor and violence to reveal the truth about her characters. For example, the grandmother’s blend of kindness and manipulation, or The Misfit’s casual talk about life and death, although we might feel uncomfortable, it shows us who these people really are. The Misfit Is not just a villain, he is more of a mirror for the grandmother. He is forcing her to face her beliefs about faith and right and wrong. These ideas are examples of ideas I might have missed without reading the author’s article first.
A specific idea from “A Good Man is Hard to Find” that I would’ve missed if I hadn’t read the article was the idea of violence being used for a character’s “moment of grace.” Typically, I would expect violence to be used for an adrenaline-pumped action scene or a simple victory/loss. However, O’Connor says that violence is “strangely capable of returning (her) characters to reality.” It was interesting to see this idea fleshed out when I reached the end of the story, because it completely shifted my view of the grandmother. I viewed her as a desperate old lady whose biggest concern was her own safety; although, the use of violence gave her a moment of clarity that redeemed her. Being moments away from death, she finally felt actual sympathy for The Misfit, whereas before she was just trying to convince him to let her live. One would think she simply wanted to capitalize off The Misfit’s emotions, but O’Connor makes it clear that her final words were her genuine return to reality.
Even story’s title can have an influence on how a reader prepares for the story line. Before reading the story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, I expected to be a romance story, just from reading the tittle. Getting deeper into the reading, I was looking forward to a happy ending love story , since the grandmother was describing a gentleman that she remembers from her working days, who passed away a wealthy man and told a story of a mystery house with hidden treasure ” she would have done well to marry Mr. Teagarden because he was a gentleman and had bought Coca-Cola stock when it first came out and that he had died only a few years ago, a very wealthy man”. Unfortunately the story does not end with happiness/love and discovery of the mystery treasure, it becomes a tragedy, ending in brutal deaths and agony. One unexpected decision in the story, altered the faith in the characters story life. I read the story twice and every time I had a vivid image of the kids being taking away to the woods, while seeing the parents fear and pain through their eyes. The grandmother on the other hand , did her best part to speak some sense into Misfit by using religious language and reversed psychology. One main specific idea, that I had to read and research after reading “Excerpt from ‘On Her Own Work’: The Element of Suspense in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find.’” was the part of the grandmother’s gestures. First gesture was “hands waving” after the accident that family just had, to attract attention of approaching vehicle, in which there were 3 man , whom one of them was her killer, Misfit. Second gesture was mentioned at the end of the story, […]
When reading the excerpt “On Her Own Work”, O’Connor brought up the idea of the Grandmother being viewed as a witch. I would’ve never thought about that, while this story has a lot to do with the concepts of good/evil and religion; I began to think about the idea of the supernatural. We have the Grandmother almost prophesizing her and her family’s destiny before the trip even begins. The Grandmother talks about how The Misfit escaped jail and how they would be better off going to Tennessee and then you have the kids making jokes about how they would react if they were faced with the bandit. While I am not a religious person I am spiritual, so having this comparison of the witch and destiny makes me more interested in the story; leaving it to only the view of religion makes me question God or Jesus. This makes me think about the Misfit’s mindset of a person who feels undeserving of his punishment, a man wronged by God and now being faced by a woman who still calls him a good man after killing her family. Had I not read the excerpt I would’ve never thought about the idea of destiny but rather coincidence.
If I did not read the article “Excerpt from ‘On Her Own Work’: The Element of Suspense in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’” I would likely have overlooked several critical aspects of the narrative. The author’s insights reveal the intricate layers of the grandmother’s self-deception, particularly how her superficial understanding of morality leads her to justify her flawed decisions. For instance, she often presents herself as a genteel lady while manipulating her family to get her way, highlighting the contradictions in her character. Moreover, the portrayal of the Misfit challenges the conventional notion of a villain. Instead of being merely evil, he is depicted as a character grappling with existential questions about morality and existence. His dialogue with the grandmother reveals his deep internal conflicts regarding good and evil, prompting me to consider the complexities of human nature. This nuanced characterization pushed me to reflect on my own moral ambiguity and the challenges of distinguishing right from wrong in a complicated world.
There are a lot of things I would have missed if I had not read the excerpt from activity one. The theme and plot of the story isn’t linear. So, without the excerpt I believe I would find many of the scenes disjointed or confusing pertaining to where the author is trying to take the readers in this story. The specific idea would be the grandmother being recognized as the “Heroine” and the misfit later on in life, going back to Jesus and becoming a prophet due to the grandmother’s words. She played a part in saving the misfit and what she said to the misfit before getting shot aided him in choosing a better life. Additionally, I would have thought that whatever the grandmother was saying was ineffective because he still shot her. But maybe he shot her because her words were having an effect on him and shooting her was his only defense against those words. I believe I would not have been able to pick up on these ideas by simply reading the story on its own without the excerpt.
