"A Good Man is Hard to Find," Flannery O'Connor
Print a copy out, and follow these instructions:
- Read it through once. Don't make any marks on the story or worry about literary devices.
- Read it a second time. This time, read with a pen in hand, and take notes the way you think works best for you (on the paper or in a separate notebook).
In A Good Man Is Hard to Find, the story begins with the grandmother complaining about going on a trip to Florida because she would rather go to Tennessee and in an attempt to convince her family, Bailey (her son), his wife, June Star and John Wesley, their children, and the baby, about The Misfit, whom she has been reading about in the newspaper. The Misfit had escaped from the prison and is on the loose. She is ignored and they set of for the trip the next morning. They stopped to get some barbequed sandwiches on their way and just talked about events in life with the owner is the place and how they can’t trust anyone anymore. They set on for the trip again and this time, the grandmother tries to get them to detour because she thought she knew a plantation on the field they were driving on and this time she got her wish granted and Bailey detoured to see the plantation. After some time the grandmother realized they were on the wrong field and how she reacted to her mistake caused a cat she had brought along the trip to just on to Bailey who was driving in this resulted in a car accident. Thankfully no one died. Minutes later a car approached and in this car was the Misfit the grandmother read about in the newspaper. She recognized the Misfit and he res ponded by saying "it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn't of reckernized me." The grandmother tried to talk the misfit and his group not to harm them in anyway by asking him to pray and repent but the Misfit had none of it and orders Bailey and John Wesley to be killed. The Grandmother begins to beg The Misfit to pray so that Jesus will help him. Right before The Misfit kills her, The Grandmother calls him one of her own children, identifying him as a fellow human who can be saved by God's Grace. Even though he murders her, the Misfit achieved some level of Grace as well when he ends the story by saying, "It's no real pleasure in life." The Misfit had reflected on what the Grandmother said to him.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Abrokwah
09/06/2011