When we first started reading this story it was confusing. I felt lost not knowing what the true meaning behind this story was. Reading the article written by the author, he said there would be goodness in the story eventually. Continuing reading the story and stopping to talk about what has happened already. More towards the end the grandma’s words to the Misfit changed the way he is, it had him rethink about the life choices he has made. The first time reading the story I didn’t understand what happened at the end but when I read the article written by the author when he mentioned about a situation where there will be goodness made me realize the goodness was in the Misfit. All throughout the story the family but mostly the grandma did not have any goodness in them. But, the misfit after hearing the grandma last words he changed his mind and told himself that there was no joy in killing anymore.
Daily Archives: March 30, 2024
If I hadn’t read Flannery O’Connor’s article about “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” I might have missed some of the story’s deeper meanings when it came to religion. Her article explains how she intended to explore themes like the grandmother’s change of heart or her epiphany, which we talked about in class, and the idea of grace. Without this background, I really don’t think I would’ve realized that the ending was very important towards the topic of religion, or I would’ve thought it wasn’t deeper than what it was. O’Connor’s article helped me see how the story goes beyond just a tale of crime and punishment, diving into complex moral and religion questions. After reading the article I went back to reread “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” and to be honest it was a whole different read. I started to think more about the smaller things and try to interpret.
Upon reading the three pages and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the article highlights particular significant ideas that one may miss without reading. Firstly, the article mentions how the violence in the story helps to reveal more profound spiritual themes, particularly when the Misfit commits a violent act. This assists in understanding the grandmother’s transformation when she confronts death. Secondly, the article provides a more complex view of the grandmother’s character. She is portrayed as neither entirely good nor entirely evil, but having positive qualities despite her imperfections. This allows us to view her character in a more intriguing light. Also, the article discusses symbols in the story, such as the grandmother’s hat and the cat’s name, which have hidden meanings that enhance the story’s depth. By understanding these signs, we can develop a better understanding of the author’s intentions. Therefore, the article helps us gain a more profound understanding of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by illustrating its themes, characters, and writing style.
HELLO, So,I do feel like I would have missed some things from the story if I didn’t read the essay which was the Activity 1 that professor make us read in the starting of the class to clear us the story more.Firstly,the essay delves into the Misfit’s character, revealing him as a symbolic representation of the South’s conflicted religious identity, adding layers of philosophical tension to his menacing nature. Secondly, O’Connor’s exploration of religious themes contrasts the grandmother’s superficial faith with the Misfit’s intricate theological ponderings, enriching the narrative’s exploration of morality and redemption. Additionally, the article analysis of symbolism, such as the grandmother’s hat symbolizing misplaced values, and literary techniques like foreshadowing and irony, accentuates the story’s suspenseful climax. Although I would not have understand the story better until I have read the article it helps me alot in understanding the story well.
“A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” what resonated with me the most was the absence of morality and selfishness. The grandmother, as the eldest member of the family, wished for other family members to follow her desires and guidance to fulfill her dreams, placing her own wishes above everyone else’s. In the final section of the essay, she said: “If someone had been holding a gun to her head all her life, she would have been a good person all the time.” This tells me that she is someone willing to be a good person or consider others only when her life or safety is threatened. She and the criminal are confidants who understand each other at the deepest level. Yet, it is such a confidant who understands her, who personally ends the lives of her and her family, making her pay the highest price for her selfishness. I believe that the reason the grandmother shows concern for her family at the end of the story is because someone is pointing a gun at her at that moment, threatening her life. Throughout her life, the grandmother did not spend much time thinking about others. It’s only in the last moments of her life, or when faced with a threat, that she’s willing to become such a “good person.” This demonstrates that she knows how to be a good person but chooses not to unless her life is in danger, habitually placing her own interests above the feelings of everyone else.
Hello professor. Honestly I do feel like I would have missed few things in the story . One of those things are that if I did not read the article before reading the story; While in class, after we finished reading the article, I was left with feeling kind of “left off”. Unfortunately I did not understand where the story went and found myself wanting to read more. When reading the article, the description of the grandmother and of the misfits portrayed them out to be somewhat of these characters that left a bad taste in your mouth, at least in regards to the grandmother the image of her personality is distorted. After reading the actual story, the grandmother is not as bad as she is made out to be, In the end of the story the grandmother shows that she does care for her family and is not the selfish witch that the readers thought she was.
