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A good man is hard to find character analysis
Character analysis essay A good man is hard to find
A good man is hard to find character analysis
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The story examines fate and code of conduct of the Misfit and the grandmother. The story is thought provoking, disturbing and challenges one's perspective of what one may consider right or wrong. There is also a degree of selfishness behaviors that raises questions about the characters ability to show empathy freely despite their disposition. The Misfit affirmed his code of conduct by an injustice, he is not able to recall the crime and there is no paperwork to substantiate the crime. He said, "I call myself The Misfit, because I can't make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment" (O'Connor, 1953). Therefore, his moral code is not about what is right or wrong, but what he perceived as gratifying. The question is, whether …show more content…
This is because what may be gratifying or acceptable by one person is not necessarily acceptable by another, but most importantly, one tends to develop a code that meets their personal agenda. The Misfit was unable to come to terms with things he cannot see, and so he remains consistent and true to himself by holding his moral crown. His actions and beliefs are congruent unlike the grandmother who wavered in her beliefs when pushed. The thought that we control the direction of our actions is false. If this were true, why this family did not escape this horrifying death? What seemed clear is that we are shaped by influences that are beyond our control and no matter how one may fight to escape against that order; one is drawn or tied to forces that are not clearly understood. Clearly the Misfit and the grandmother paths crossing were necessary in order for them to come to a clearer understanding of self. Despite the fact, that their moral compass may differ and were unlikely to cross paths path, their state of cloudiness require a meeting to obtain clarity. The grandmother was able to see beyond her artificial life and own her truth. As a result she was able to connect with someone who is flawed. Her epiphany brought clarity and allowed her to think about someone other than herself. This was seen by the Misfit when he said, "She would have been a good woman, if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life" (O'Connor,
The Misfit is a complex character created by Flannery O’Connor. He is talked about first when the Grandmother reads his criminal background at the breakfast table. Right when the Misfit meets the family the Grandmother starts questioning his faith and past, and through the Grandmother’s persistent behavior that you find out the truth behind the Misfits hard exterior. The reader understands that the Misfit was brought up by parents who were the “finest people in the world” (O’Connor 1312). With this type of background, how can one expect the Misfit to be such a cold blooded killer? Because of his kind nature in the beginning of the story, it’s almost impossible to understand how he could just kill. Through deeper analysis one can characterize the Misfit with a heart of gold, but the mind of a villain. This characterization is true because somewhere along the line he was wrongly accused of murdering his father and was brutally punished and he was mistreated by the justice system. The Misfit knows he was innocent and neither Jesus nor the justice system could rid him of the punish he received. It’s not because he is an evil person, he says himself “I never was a bad boy that I remember of… but somewhere along the line I done something wrong and got sent to the penitentiary. I was buried alive” (1314). The Misfit states he was never the worst person, but he also says himself that he was never good either, so the reason behind the Misfit’s homicidal condition is not because he is an evil person but due to his distrust in Jesus Christ and the justice system.
The Misfit was the victim of society, but Arnold was not. “‘But I know what it is. I know your name and all about you, lots of things...’” he has had to investigate Connie, and wait her family all left; He knew she like night outing and date with boys. The car and radio present he has a good home economics. He could survey all about Connie that is mean he was very powerful. “‘but it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn’t of recognized me.’” in unsuitable time and place the grandmother met and accepted him, that is not any conscious. “‘I forget what I done, lady. I set there and set there, trying to remember what it was I done and I ain’t recalled it to this day...’” he was the victim of society, that unjust treatment let him to sold his soul to traded with the
William Burke defines the bond between the Misfit and the grandmother by observing a “shared moral principle” (99). This moral principle is the belief that they deem themselves a good person, though, for entirely different reasons. As the family begins its trip, despite her initial objections, the grandmother is content with the ride (O’Connor 203). Her agreeable nature portrays her as being a kind old woman and therefore the good person she strives to be. Despite his criminal history, the Misfit is introduced as a considerate motorist, stopping to help the injured family and their damaged vehicle (208). Considering his reputation, had he truly been a man of evil, the family would have been in immediate danger, as opposed to just the point from when the grandmother recognized him. Upon the realization that the Misfit may, in fact, be no different than one of her own children, her subsequent murder reveals the Misfit’s own regrets about his misdeeds (O’Connor 212).
He’s the most dangerous criminal, and the Grandmother knows that. It seems she wants to buy herself time by having a conversation with The Misfit. The Misfit seems to be having a nice conversation because he was talking about his life and the meaning behind his name. He explains in their conversation why he calls himself “The Misfit”, according to the story, “I can’t make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment.”. So, he named himself The Misfit, because of the wrong things he had done in the past. He talked about how his dad had something to do with him being what he is. “My daddy said I was a different breed of dog from my brothers and sisters.” It seems that his father knew he was different in a bad way and he expresses it with his son The Misfit. For him, murdering people is only to give them a punishment they deserved, but killing the Grandmother is justified as the ultimate punishment for her sins of manipulation and deviousness. According to the Article from Bethea, “like Satan, The Misfit is an anti-Christ. Jesus loved children, whereas children make the anti-Christ Misfit ‘nervous’’. The Misfit has already directed the execution of the Grandmother's entire family, and it must be obvious to all, including reader and Grandmother, that she is the next to die. But she struggles on. Grasping at any appeal, and hardly aware of what she is saying, the
There are three phases of thought for the Grandmother. During the first phase, which is in the beginning, she is completely focused on herself in relation to how others think of her. The Second Phase occurs when she is speaking to The Misfit. In the story, The Misfit represents a quasi-final judgment. He does this by acting like a mirror. He lets whatever The Grandmother says bounce right off him. He never really agrees with her or disagrees, and in the end he is the one who kills her. His second to last line, "She would of been a good woman," The Misfit said, "if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life," (O'Conner 152). might be the way O'Conner felt about most of us alive, or how she felt that God must feel about us.
In both Jack Kerouac’s, On the Road, and Thomas Pynchon’s Crying of Lot 49 the characters act in a deviant manner outside of social norms. This in turn leads to a deviant sub-cultural group which competes with the institutionalized authorities for power. Deviance in both novels is usually defined as a certain type of behaviour, such as an inebriated professor babbling on in a lecture hall filled with students or a group of teenagers frolicking naked in a city park on a hot and sunny afternoon. However, deviance can also encompass both ideas and attributes (Sagarin, 1975). The primary understanding of deviance rests in the reactions of observers, something becomes deviant because an individual, group or society takes offense and reacts negatively (Cohen, 1966, Lofland, 1969). These negative reactions occur because onlookers interpret what they see and hear as being bad, insane, strange, immoral, non-conforming, or wrong. Negative responses do more than define deviance; they serve as mechanisms of social control and power. In examining these novels from a sociological perspective, both Kerouac and Pynchon examine conflicts between mainstream society and sub-cultural groups. The deviant behaviour, thoughts, and attributes observed from the characters within the novels provide a strong argument for Austin Turk’s conflict theory of deviance, which examines power and cultural conflict as a basis for deviant behaviour.
...d both of them do not quite understand what being saved actually means. In the end, “when she saw the man’s face twisted close to her own (367).” the grandmother realizes that she and The Misfit are both on the same level and she is no worse than the latter. Almost like taking a look into a mirror and pondering upon one’s own reflection. The story takes a quick pause, when the author writes the line, “His voice seemed to crack and the grandmother’s head cleared for an instance (367).” What were the thoughts that went through the grandmother’s head? What happened during the “instance” that changed the grandmother’s view on her beliefs? The sole purpose of the phrase drowns a reader with questions and uncertainty. The story makes a final closure with The Misfit’s remark on how his source of happiness by performing violent acts brings “no real pleasure in life.”
In this week’s reading, we have had the ability to read about what drives people to be good and moral. Plato divided the human soul into three parts, thus creating the tri-partite soul. These three parts are the rational, the spirited and the appetite. These three parts assist in understanding police deviance and how to account for such behaviors. Before delving into Plato’s tri-partite soul, we will discuss the differences between misfeasance, malfeasance, and nonfeasance, as they relate to police deviance.
All of the quotations provide evidence showing that The Misfit is a very confused and disturbed individual. The majority of his thoughts are based on a fantasy point of view. He overlooks the reality of situations and because of these thoughts he becomes a threat to society. This fantasy life makes The Misfit stressed, angry and very agitated. All of these violent emotions contribute to The Misfits killer mentality and his lack of mercy. He could not remember or understand why he was sent to the penitentiary.
In the following summary, “The Misfits”, written by James Howe, states that Bobby Goodspeed is working at his very first shift as a tie salesman at the awkworth and Ames department store. The main characters are Bobby, Skeezie, Addie, and Joe. However, the setting of this story takes place in a little town, paintbrush falls, New York. To begin with, the opening situation of “the misfits” is all mostly about Bobby’s first shift. On the other hand, Bobby has a new boss and his name is Mr.Kellerman, it's called killer man behind his back, because he's so mean and grumpy.
Some people feel justified for their actions, even though they know what they are doing is unethical. In Shirley Jackson’s Short story “The Possibility of Evil” the main character named Miss Adela Strangeworth is like this. Miss Strangeworth is indirectly characterized as being egocentric, sanctimonious, and for being self-indulgent.
In O’Connor’s short story, “The Misfit”, a grandmother, her son, and his wife and children go on a family field trip. There is a criminal on the loose but the family decides to proceed with their plans anyway. The criminal is called the Misfit, and as with the rest of the story, this is full of irony. The thwarted family road trip might symbolize the choices a person makes and the consequences they bring.
The mutual commitment to society’s rules can be a major unifying force between two individuals in a relationship. Both of these entities know that society will look at them favorably for together conforming to the rules. Thus, they agree to commit to them. Consequently, this desire to conform to the status quo becomes a part of these individuals’ identities. It shapes their sense of right and wrong and influences their everyday actions. However, when one party falters in this commitment the obedient other feels cheated because the image and sense of purpose she/he derived from this conformity is now tarnished. Having lost a major part of their identities the obedient persons use the “shock and awe” tactic and commit an out of character act to force their transgressing partners to contemplate their wrong actions. This theme of “shock and awe” is exhibited in the actions of the character “Stevie” in Edward Albee’s play “The Goat, or, Who is Sylvia?” and N.S.A whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The grandmother pleads with him and says that she knows he is a good man and wouldn’t harm a lady. The Misfit disagrees and even says “I can't make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment. (O'Connor, F. 1988) There is some irony in that the grandmother spends the whole story speaking about what a lady she is and how a good man is hard to find, yet throughout the story she continues to display characteristics such as hypocrisy, dishonesty, and selfishness. We can see said qualities in actions such as her lack of sympathy as her family is slaughtered around her. (SparkNotes Editors, 2007) The Misfit, on the other hand, is more sensible with his lot in life.
It could be said that it’s human nature to be attracted and attempt to understand to something new and unusual. The misfit is an example of a character who is very unusual and doesn't fit the stereotypical image of an evil psychopathic killer displayed on mainstream crime television. In “A good man is hard to find”