Societal Deterioration in A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor

Flannery O'Connor, in her short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" portrays a perspective that the society is drastically changing for the worst. The author writes the book based on her religious upbringing in the South. The story has a protagonist, Grandmother, who had a son called Bailey. Bailey wants to take his family to Florida for a vacation, but her mother resists claiming they should visit Tennessee.  She was afraid that they might meet Misfit, an escaped convict, in Florida. However, they encounter Misfit in Georgia, and he kills the whole family. O'Connor uses characterization and symbolism to shows displeasure with society through the grandmother. The story shows the existing generation gap between the young and the old (the old woman and her family). The author uses to criticize the flaws in society. This paper explores how the community in the short story changes for the worse, and Flannery's anger towards the community.

First, the author uses the old woman, Grandmother, to symbolize the selfish and ignorant upper class in the society in the Southern American culture. The old woman dresses elegantly, and she is obsessed with the lady-like look. She puts on white gloves and huts to show that she is not of common standards as the healthy people (Van 23). In her opinion, her son's family belongs to the middle class, and she feels superior to them. Although the grandmother seems caring toward her family, she is selfish and does not care about them. She opposes Bailey's choice of a vacation destination claiming that Misfit, an escaped prisoner lived in Florida. "I wouldn't take my children in any direction with a criminal like that loose in it. I couldn't answer to my conscience if I did." (Byrant 305). Instead, she suggests that the family goes to Tennessee because she wanted to go and visit her relatives there. She wants to make a stopover at the road, so she uses the kids to convince Bailey. "There was a secret panel in this house," she said craftily, not telling the truth but wishing that she were, "and the story went that all the family silver was hidden in it when Sherman came through but it was never found..." (Meyer 434).  As a result of her selfishness, Misfit kills her whole family in Georgia. Therefore, it is evident that grandmother used her social class to influence her family's decision, but she was wrong all along.

Second, O'Connor in her short story brings out the decayed moral conduct in Southern society. First Grandmother's children paid no attention to her, and when they did, they were always rude. Second, Bailey's children forecast the future generation due to their violent and undisciplined nature. Nature and lack respect for their grandmother, even though she is way older them (Asals 28). At one occasion, Bailey’s child, June star, grumbled that her grandmother follows them wherever they go in her face. "She wouldn't stay at home for a million bucks," June star said. "Afraid she'd miss something. She has to go everywhere we go." (Meyer 412).  Also, grandmother lies to her family to get her desires, yet she claims that bad morals depend on where one comes from. She believes that she has moral conduct because she came from a rich background. Also she believes is superior to black people and see them as hopeless individuals and inferior. Lastly, Grandmother is a pathetic liar who lies to people to get what she wants. She lied to her son about the place they should visit for vacation and about bringing the cat to the trip. Therefore, it is evident that many people in society lack moral values, and the futures generations lack respect for their elders.

Third, the short story applies the theme of violence that depicts the increased crime levels in society. Misfit hijacks Grandmother's family of six after they encounter an accident. The grandmother recognizes Misfit as an escaped prisoner, and this forces Misfit to eliminate the family. "but it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn't of recognized me” (O’Connor 198). The Old woman witnesses the Convict exterminate all her family member, and she knows she is next. She tries to convince Misfit to change his mind but all in vain. You wouldn't shoot a lady, would you?" the grandmother said and removed a clean handkerchief from her cuff and began to slap at her eyes with it (Meyer 450). However, Misfit sees her death as a favor as she should meet God she has always served. He shots her severally in cold blood. Misfit does not care about the lives of thee innocent children, despite them not having wronged him. Therefore, the killing of Bailey's family depicts that human's lives have lost meaning and people aimlessly get killed.

Additionally, O'Connor's story depicts racial discrimination in the South American society. The author reveals racism through Grandmother. She addresses a poor black boy as a "pickaninny" in front of her grandchildren. The boy does not have any clothes, and Grandmothers claims that black children lack the things her grandkids have. This racial slur could make the kids change their perspective of Black people. Also, she uses the word ‘nigger" to refer to the Black people' because she feels superior to them. She has a negative attitude towards African Americans and views them as inferior. "Little niggers in the country don't have things like we do" (Meyer 426)). This happens at a time when society is past racism. Lastly, the old woman makes a joke about a young black child. Thus, it is evident that older people transfer racism mentality to young, innocent children.

Lastly, Flannery uses the theme of religion to portray the religious hypocrisy in society. Grandmother claims she is saved, yet she is a racist and harshly judges other people like Misfit when in reality, Elitists like her turned him into the criminal he is. She is a pathetic person, who claims to identify good people, yet she does not have empathy for anyone. She may be religious, but she does not think of what Jesus would like her to do (Van 30). On the other hand, Misfit is an Anti-Christ who does not believe in religion. However, he believes that Jesus 'thrown everything off balance' by taking charge of a crime he had not committed. Misfit compares himself to Jesus as he was accused of his father's death and sent to prison. "I call myself The Misfit […] because I can't make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment." (Meyer 442). However, Misfit's lack of faith is justifiable as he blames God for his mischiefs in life.

In conclusion, O'Connor did a fantastic job in criticizing the flaws in Southern society. First, the story brings out the problem of social class through Grandmother who feels superior and of high standards than her own family. Also, racial discrimination is portrayed when Grandmother makes fun of a black kid on their way to Georgia. Additionally, Flannery showed the issue of religious hypocrisy where people practice things that do not please God. Violence is an essential problem in Southern society. Lastly, the author depicted moral decay as a big problem for the future generation. Therefore, the short story is essential in today's society as the book has valuable lessons which could change the culture.

 

 

 

Works Cited

Asals, Frederick. Flannery O'Connor: The Imagination of Extremity. University of Georgia

            Press, 2011. PRINT

Bryant, Hallman B. "Reading the Map in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find.’." Studies in Short

            Fiction 18.3 (1981): 301-307.

Meyer, M. Literature to go. Boston; New York: Bedford/St. martin's, Macmillan

            Learning, 2017.  PRINT

O’Connor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories. Houghton Mifflin

            Harcourt, 1955. PRINT

Van, Truong Thi Me. "The Relevance of Literary Analysis to Teaching Literature in the EFL

Classroom." English Teaching Forum. Vol. 47. No. 3. US Department of State. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs, SA-5, 2200 C Street NW 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, 2009. PRINT