Grotesque Character

752 Words2 Pages

While analyzing the grotesque character in A Good Man is Hard to Find many things stood out. First the grotesque character’s name was "the Misfit." On page 11, he defines the meaning of his name by stating that, "he couldn't make what he did wrong fit with his punishment." This means that he considers himself a "misfit" not defined as an outcast, but defined as if he were unexplainable. His character is smart because he learns from his mistakes, but he also escaped from the Federal Penitentiary. On page 10 his character is trying to recollect what his crime was, as he is going through his thoughts with the grandmother he states that he wouldn't sign anything he could never get a copy off because that is why he was in the penitentiary in the …show more content…

She also implies that she is in church when she asked him multiple times if he prays. The last part of her character that is revealed all throughout the story, from the beginning to the end, is that she's very talkative. Toward the end of the story she is trying to appeal to him and she continues to talk to him even after her son rudely hushes her. This is ironic because after she is shot the misfits states, "she would've been a good woman if it had been someone there to shoot her every minute of her life" (page 12). This shows the Misfits misogynistic character trait because he does not value the opinion or voice of women. His statement clearly shows how he would prefer a woman that is seen and not …show more content…

This short story makes the gender roles in the Southern culture very clear. Even though the grandmother is very talkative it is her mouth that put them all in danger. If she had not claimed to recognize the Misfit he probably would have let them go, but the grandmother also foreshadowed the dangerous situation happening before it happened. This irony is what I believe the author uses to draw attention to the gender roles within Southern culture. I believe the author allows the grandmother to have insight of how this misfit she saw the newspaper would be ultimately the end of their lives. If her son would have considered what she said about encountering the Misfit, he could have prevented their death. When her son chose to ignore her, it was a representation of how women’s opinion was ignored in society. The short story didn't seem to have much tension or mention about race other than the display of how the family interacted with themselves and with other African Americans. Finally, this story raises questions about class because it shows how the children treated people with a lower economic status. This family is portrayed as a working or middle-class family because the daughter knows how to tap dance, and their family is going on a vacation. The children treat people with a lower economic status poorly with a lot of disrespect. On page 4 the daughter speaks disrespectfully

Show More
Related

  • Similarities Between A Raisin In The Sun And A Doll's House

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story also focuses in on Ruth Younger the wife of Walter Lee, it shows the place she holds in the house and the position she holds to her husband. Walter looks at Ruth as though he is her superior; he only goes to her for help when he wants to sweet talk his mama into giving him the money. Mama on the other hand holds power over her son and doesn’t allow him to treat her or any women like the way he tries to with Ruth. Women in this story show progress in women equality, but when reading you can tell there isn’t much hope and support in their fight. For example Beneatha is going to college to become a doctor and she is often doubted in succeeding all due to the fact that she is black African American woman, her going to college in general was odd in most people’s eyes at the time “a waste of money” they would say, at least that’s what her brother would say. Another example where Beneatha is degraded is when she’s with her boyfriend George Murchison whom merely just looks at her as arm

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Coming Of Age In Mississippi

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    Racial inequality was a big thing back in the day, as the blacks were oppressed, discriminated and killed. The blacks did not get fair treatment as the whites, they were always been looked down, mocked, and terrified. But Moody knew there’s still an opportunity to change the institution through Civil Rights Movement. As she matured Anne Moody come to a conclusion that race was created as something to separate people, and there were a lot of common between a white person and a black person. Moody knew sexual orientation was very important back in the 1950s, there was little what women can do or allowed to do in the society. For example, when Moody was ridiculed by her activist fellas in Civil Rights Movement. Women indeed played an important role in Moody’s life, because they helped forming her personality development and growth. The first most important woman in Moody’s life would be her mother, Toosweet Davis. Toosweet represent the older rural African American women generation, whom was too terrified to stand up for their rights. She was portrayed as a good mother to Moody. She struggled to make ends meet, yet she did everything she could to provide shelter and food to her children. Toosweet has encouraged Moody to pursue education. However, she did not want Moody to go to college because of the fear of her daughter joining the Civil Rights Movement and getting killed. The second important woman to Moody would be Mrs. Burke, She is the white woman Moody worked for. Mrs. Burke is a fine example of racist white people, arguably the most racist, destructive, and disgusting individual. In the story, Mrs. Burke hold grudge and hatred against all African American. Although she got some respects for Moody, State by the Narrator: “You see, Essie, I wouldn’t mind Wayne going to school with you. But all Negroes aren’t like you and your

    Read More

  • Similarities Between The Misfit And A Good Man Is Hard To Find

    813 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Misfit is clearly a criminal, but he calls himself “The Misfit” because he “can’t make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment” (429). The Misfit deflected responsibility from himself and refuses to bear the results of his conflicts. Furthermore, the grandmother continuously declares that she is a so called “lady” though she is clearly racist, and is the reason why her family gets murdered. The grandmother made her son that she wanted to see until she realized that it was in a different state. In addition to all of this, she begs for her life, but never asks The Misfit to spare her family. In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, it says “Throw me that shirt, Bobby Lee,” The Misfit said. The shirt came flying at him and landed on his shoulder and he put it on. The grandmother couldn’t name what the shirt reminded her of” (429). The grandmother did not even recognize that The Misfit had killed her son and taken his

    Read More

  • Behavior in the Home in Invisible Inequality: Social Class and Childrearing in Black Families and White Families by Annette Lareau

    713 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lareau’s main argument in the text is that when children grow up in certain environments, parents are more likely to use specific methods of child rearing that may be different from other families in different social classes. In the text, Lareau describes how she went into the home of the McAllisters and the Williams, two black families leading completely different lives. Ms. McAllister lives in a low income apartment complex where she takes care of her two children as well as other nieces and nephews. Ms. McAllister never married the father of her two children and she relies on public assistance for income. She considers herself to be a woman highly capable of caring for all the children yet she still struggles to deal with the stress of everyday financial issues. The Williams on the other hand live in a wealthier neighborhood and only have one child. Mr. W...

    Read More

  • JoAnn Marshall - The Roles of Southern Women, Black and White, in Society

    1648 Words  | 4 Pages

    Lillian Smith provides a description of the typical black woman and the typical white woman "of the pre-1960's American South" (Gladney 1) in her autobiographical critique of southern culture, Killers of the Dream. The typical black woman in the South is a cook, housekeeper, nursemaid, or all three wrapped up in one for at least one white family. Therefore, she is the double matriarch of the South, raising her own family and the families of her white employers: "It was not a rare sight in my generation to see a black woman with a dark baby at one breast and a white one at the other, rocking them both in her wide lap" (Smith 130). The southern black woman's duties extend far beyond rearing children, as she also serves as a family counselor, confidant, and nurse for the entire white family (Smith 129) and her own if time permits. She can do all this and more because she is strong, wise, and insightful in all areas of life (Smith 119). In short, the southern black woman is the cornerstone of the southern, domestic life. The white woman in the South has an equally important role. The southern white woman is responsible for maintaining southern social order, better known as Southern Tradition.

    Read More

  • Irony in a Good Man is Hard to Find

    954 Words  | 2 Pages

    The following day the family heads off to Florida. Another major point of irony happens as the story revolves around the grandmothers traditional southern values of respect for other people; especially elders, respect for your home and country. At the same moment as the grandmother is lecturing her grand kids about respecting their home state she sees a young Negro boy and says: “Oh look at the cute little pickaninny!” (Pg 208). Her hypocrisy becomes evident as she wants the family to do what she says not what she does.

    Read More

  • Tradition In Alice Walker's Short Story 'Everyday Use'

    1157 Words  | 3 Pages

    Momma is the narrator of the story. Her views about tradition and heritage are respecting their American heritage that they built with pain, injustice, and humiliation. She introduces herself in the story as “big-boned woman with rough, man-working hands.” Also, she describes what she can do like, killing and cleaning a hog; working outside all day; breaking ice to get water; cocking pork on open fire; killing and processing bull calves. Traditionally all these work are done by men. In this story, there is no information about what happened to her husband and there is no indication of any other man that can help her to do those works traditionally done by men. That lack of presence of man in her family life did not stop her from continuing those traditional works. Only thing she stopped doing is milking a cow because she got physically injured doing so. Traditionally African Americans were not used to ask question why something happening. Also, they were not used to see themselves as equal to a white American. Momma was not different from that. The story was setup in the backdrop of a changing era. African Americans were fighting for their equal rights. Even all those Black Power Movement and Civil Right Movement was not able to make Momma to look into the eyes of any white man while talking to

    Read More

  • The House Behind the Cedars by Charles W. Chesnutt

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author distinguishes white people as privileged and respectful compare to mulattos and blacks. In the racial society, white people have the right to get any high-class position in job or live any places. In the story, all white characters are noble such as Judge Straight lawyer, Doctor Green, business-man George, and former slaveholder Mrs. Tryon. Moreover, the author also states the racial distinction of whites on mulattos. For example, when Dr. Green talks to Tryon, “‘The niggers,’…, ‘are getting mighty trifling since they’ve been freed. Before the war, that boy would have been around there and back before you could say Jack Robinson; now, the lazy rascal takes his time just like a white man.’ ” (73) Additionally, in the old society, most white people often disdained and looked down on mulattos. Even though there were some whites respected colored people friendly, there were no way for colored people to stand parallel with whites’ high class positions. The story has demonstrations that Judge Straight accepted John as his assistant, Mrs. Tryon honor interviewed Rena, and George finally changed and decided to marry Rena; however, the discrimination is inevitable. For example, when Mrs. Tryon heard Rena was colored, she was disappointed. “The lady, who had been studying her as closely as good manners would permit, sighed regretfully.” (161) There, Mrs. Tryon might have a good plan for Rena, but the racial society would not accept; since Rena was a mulatto, Mrs. Tryon could not do anything to help Rena in white social life. The racial circumstance does not only apply on mulattos, but it also expresses the suffering of black people.

    Read More

  • Racial Tensions: A Deep Dive into 'Secret Daughter'

    1067 Words  | 3 Pages

    Like many other African-American families of the past, Peggy would insinuate herself into a family. While the white community may see this family structure as lacking because there is a lack of a nucleus or male leadership, in Gender, Economy, and Kinship, we discover that much of the African-American community do not see the lack of a nuclear family as a detriment, but “Rather a source of strength, not weakness, in surviving structural adversity and disadvantage (Blumberg 2005). I would have to agree, for it would be the strength of community that would allow Peggy and her husband Paul to take in a child who was not their own and teach her the value of community. This community or “good segregation” as June calls it, would give June a place to be herself without having to question where she fit. June would eventually say that it was Peggy’s rules and decorum that would shape her ideals and open her political consciousness of race. Peggy would use the story of the Ugly Duckling to cement in June’s consciousness that while race was binding, class could be overcome. Much like June Jordan’s mother in Patricia Hill Collins article Shifting the Center, Peggy would also show June the value of hard work in creating a new line of work for up and coming black women, while providing for June the opportunities to “Pursue the privilege of books”

    Read More

  • The Misfit

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Racial Invisibility Of Color In Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    She is supposed to be representing freedom for the whites and making it known that the blacks have none. The naked woman symbolized a form of freedom. The white men brought in a naked woman with an American flag painted on her and if any of the black boys looked at her they were going to be in a lot of trouble. A lot of the black boys couldn’t look because unlike the white men staring and drooling the black boys had feeling and they felt her pain. The white men used her as a toy just like they were using the black boys for their own enjoyment. When the narrator finally was able to look up at her he saw the pain in her eyes. He knew she was dying inside and was trapped and had no escape just like him. Even though she was a white woman she had no freedom she was like a slave, a show for the white men. Written below it shows how one guy took control over the naked women and had his way with her unlike the black boys. They had more decency to look away and try to treat her with the respect she deserved. Unlike the white man who took control over the white women the grandson stated that “I noticed a certain merchant who followed her hungrily, his lips loose and drooling”. The white women even though they were white they were slaves to the white men just like the black boys were. The white women were only good for certain things like cooking, cleaning and waiting hand and foot for the white males. The worst part of it all was that the white males talked down upon and treated them like sex objects rather than human beings. Not only blacks had it bad so did the women they surely didn’t have the life they truly

    Read More

  • River Of Names

    1456 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today’s society people are eager to categorize what they are unfamiliar with. They perceive people who are poor, and from the south as “white trash.'; Their own socio-economic background of course influences this perception. Allison is from the back woods of South Carolina and presents these people in a way that challenges the expectations of the American public and at the same time does not romanticize their lives. The story is told by a narrator, who is nameless, and her experiences while growing up in this type of family and follows all the stereotypical images that come to mind: “broken teeth, torn overalls, and the dirt.'; She does not gloss over the ugliness of this poverty. Her words are not simple, but hard edged truths. Dorothy Allison speaks through this narrator with unflinching honesty about a world where pain and love intersect.

    Read More

  • A Good Man Is Hard To Find

    799 Words  | 2 Pages

    	The story takes on a sort of irony throughout to provide a comedic look at old values and traditions, displaying to the reader how we advance over time. The grandmother very ignorantly describes just how separate dark and light colored people were during the period:

    Read More

  • Grandmother's Flaws

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    She constantly tries to avoid her death by saying The Misfit is a good man and he wouldn't shoot an elder lady. She even goes on to try to connect with him to save herself but that only leads her to her ultimate death. On page 884 it says, “‘Why you're one of my babies. You're one of my own children!' She reached out and touched him on the shoulder. The Misfit sprung back as if a snake had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest”(O’Conner 884). Her actions and her selfishness lead her to a death she wasn't expecting. Her actions also lead her family to their death and when they were killed she didn't seem to care, she just wanted to save

    Read More

  • Zora Neale Hurston's Wife Analysis

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    Background: Women were seen as lower than men. In the story they were seen as individuals who shouldn’t have jobs that should marry for security and take care of their husbands. They were supposed to get their power through their husbands. They were stereotyped to be less than men.Nanny says and I quote “The black women are the mule of the world as far as the eye could see” which means that Nanny believes that black women get the worst lot in life. They are treated like animals. The story is given to the reader through Janie as she is speaking to Pheoby at the

    Read More

More about Grotesque Character

Open Document