Dissecting Characters in 'A Good Man Is Hard to Find'

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Character Analysis of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a riveting Southern Gothic tale written by Flannery O’Connor in 1953 about a family trip with an unfortunate ending. We are introduce to the grandmother who is a manipulative, racist, classist individual who is still stuck in “the good old days” where people were apparently kinder and life was better. Later we are presented with the Misfit, who is a misjudged criminal who has a set of principles that he lives by rather than a solitary faith. This paper will examine both of the character’s personality and background in-depth by acknowledging their differences and similarities. It’s been said that that you should never compromise these three things: your family, your heart, or Out of everyone in the story the Misfit is not a hypocrite. He doesn’t consider himself a good man, however he “ain’t the worst in the world neither” (O'Connor 410). He has disbelief for Christianity where in the sense of God, believing is not seeing, whereas what is written about him on the papers is alleged without anyone witnessing him to his crimes. He doesn’t see any redemption in the prison system, “I set there and set there, trying to remember what it was I done and I ain’t recalled it to this day” (411). The fact that he hasn’t remembered what he has done leads him to think that he is blameless. Understanding that O’Connor is a devout catholic, she most likely used the Misfit to highlight the effects of not having a god. Without Jesus in the Misfits life, he suffers as an individual, “if I had of been there I would of known and I wouldn’t be like I am now” (413). However, unlike the grandmother, he has remained consistent with his beliefs, never changing his principles when situation arises for him to adjust them. He has his henchmen kill off the family for him therefor he has a clear conscious until he shoots the

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