Flannery O Connor's Goodness

1153 Words3 Pages

In Flannery O’Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find," the characters are utilized as vessels to explore the complex interplay between egocentrism, religion, and morality. The narrative nimbly unveils the theme that the concept of a 'good man' is elusive and flawed, which in return challenges the reader to grapple with the inherent complexity of defining what is “goodness”. O'Connor's mastery of language, imagery, foreshadowing, irony, and symbolism strengthens this theme, supported by an intricate use of repetition and an omniscient narrative perspective. It can be seen at the heart of the story, there stands the grandmother, who is portrayed as a manipulative character whose actions drive the plot forward. It is through her character that O'Connor showcases the ways in which different experiences …show more content…

By emphasizing the grandmother's attachment to her hat, the story reviews her morality and challenges orthodox notions of goodness. It suggests that true morality is not simply a matter of outward appearances, the misconception of the ideal persona, or devotion to religious symbols, but necessitates genuine empathy and selflessness. A quote from "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy is complementary to the theme of morality in "A Good Man is Hard to Find": "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." This quote highlights the complexities of human morality and the unique struggles that individuals face in the pursuit of happiness and contentment, echoing the somewhat nuanced exploration of morality found in Flannery O'Connor's story. In summary, the story "A Good Man is Hard to Find," by Flannery O'Connor, the author uses numerous literary devices such as foreshadowing, irony, and symbolism to explore different themes and profound questions regarding religion, morality, and human

Open Document