"A Good Man is Hard to Find": the instances when O’Connor gives insights into grandmother’s character

Introduction 

“ A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a short story written by Flannery O’ Connor and published in 1955. It is one of O’Connor’s most highly considered works of short fiction because it displays all the characteristics she is best recognized for. In the story, O’Connor explores and reveals different concepts such as personality in the characters. O’Connor uses both direct and indirect characterization. In direct characterization, the author describes the character while indirect characterization, the audience must deduce the character of a person through their looks, thoughts, words, actions, and how they impact on other characters. The paper will discuss the instances when O’Connor gives insights into grandmother’s character and offer an explanation about the character in those instances. 

The Character of Grandmother 

In this short story, O’Connor focuses on the character of grandmother. She is the principal character, characterized as a petty, difficult, and domineering individual. This character is depicted in the instance where grandmother forces her family to take a trip so as she can see a house from her childhood. While on the trip, the family encountered a criminal gang that had escaped that landed the family in grave trouble. From this incidents, we learn that grandmother’s pushy and selfish character brought disaster in the family. If she did not insist on the family taking a trip to see the old house, the family could have escaped the trouble. Misfit, who is one of the escape criminal gang kills all the family at the end of the story. He shoots grandmother three times in the chest ( O'connor, 1977).  

Also, grandmother is depicted as a racists and holds prejudice views. Her racist behavior is demonstrated through her words and actions. When she sees an African American child without clothes, she calls the child “a pickaninny…Wouldn’t that make a picture, now?” When the granddaughter comments on why the child lack clothes, grandmother states that it is because maybe the child did not have any. “He probably didn’t have any . . . . Little niggers in the country don’t have things like we do.” The grandmother has a false sense of self-righteousness because maybe she came from a well-off family and at the time when people always did the right thing. When at the restaurant, grandmother tells Red Sammy, the owner of the restaurant that she believes the problems America is facing were contributed to by Europe. She states that Europe acted like they were made of money. She is ignorant of the lifestyle of other people as well as their viewpoints. Through this words, she demonstrates prejudice character. Her discriminatory views are associated with those of Misfit and this character results in her death ( O'connor, 1977).  

Grandmother’s strong belief in salvation in religion is depicted at the time of her death. During the conversation between her and Misfit, she is able to recognize Misfit as the infamous criminal. She tries to act good by flattering with Misfit so as to save her own life. This is a selfish act because she only makes a real connection with the other human being when she faces her own death. While her entire family members were being shoot, she made selfish attempts only to save her own life. The barrel of gun must has shocked grandmother such that she realizes what her selfish and judgmental views has cost her and her family. She is able to realize her own sinfulness, morality, and relationship with other “children of God”. She tries to reach Misfit shoulder’s telling him he is one of his own children but she is shoot dead. Her last words signify that she has finally experienced a moment of grace. Misfit shoot grandmother and the family because grandmother revealed his identify. He states, “It would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn’t recognized me.” From this incident, we learn that every individual whether good or bad deserves to be saved. Grandmother makes unselfish, religious connection with another person, which was something she could not do before this time. She is able to understand her own morality and spiritual connection with “all God’s children”. We learn that the grace of God in most cases come into the lives of people when they are not looking for it. Grandmother did not expect the grace of God to come upon her but she attained it at the end after realizes true herself. This was her opportunity for grace and she was able to move deeper towards her awareness of her faith. At the point of her death, grandmother longs for faith as she mattered “Jesus”. Also, she is able to recognize Misfits twist of humanity as part of her own calling as she has attained the grace of God ( O'connor, 1977).  

Conclusion 

From the story, we are able to clearly understand grandmother’s characters through her actions and words. She is portrayed as selfish, pushy and domineering individual whose actions and words cost the life of all family members. Also, she is a racist and holds discriminatory views against African Americans as well as Europe. We learn that grandmother’s acts has a purpose of teaching the readers that generally, the world would not recognize presence of God unless something huge happens. Grandmother is able to receive divine grace at the time of her death and realizes her strong belief in salvation. At the time of her death, grandmother reaches out to Misfit and identifies him as one of his own children. This action shows that grandmother has attained God’s grace. 

Reference 

O'connor, F. (1977).  A good man is hard to find: And other stories . Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.