The Misfit In A Good Man Is Hard To Find

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Our society today has an unspoken rule that nobody can be trusted. Different views cause people to drift further and further apart, therefore becoming “strangers”. Flannery O’Connor addresses this logic in her story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”. The Misfit is at first considered to be a stranger by the characters and the readers, however it is then made clear that both know him all to well. The Misfit symbolizes the modern man that is vulnerable and indecisive. The Misfit’s physical characteristics, motivation to be a criminal, and lasting impact he leaves on the grandmother all illustrate the modern man. The Misfit’s physical characteristics make him seem vulnerable and pitiful, which is actually his manipulated innocence shining through his tough demeanor. In the beginning of the story the …show more content…

This reinforces the idea that he is philosophical because it is evidence that he has pondered over the topic before. However, this causes the reader to wonder is he was intentionally wearing the glasses to make his victims see him as friendly, or if he actually requires them to see. The Misfit also had a long creased face with no shirt or socks on, minimizing his fallacious criminal nature and maximizing his vulnerability. The reason he does not have either of these items is because all of the clothing he is wearing have been stolen and he had to bury his other clothes so he wouldn’t be recognized. The reader knows this because O’Connor also mentions that his pants are too tight, reinforcing the fact that he stole them from someone and they didn’t quite fit him. The Misfit’s long creased face hints that he is broken on the inside. Each crease represents a time of struggle and his past troubles have caused him to look older than he really is. The Misfit’s appearance reflect his vulnerability and conniving nature to make him the perfect criminal in “A Good Man if Hard to Find”. At first we believe he is here to help the family, but as soon as a gun if paired with

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