Can One Change?

Many examples of immoral acts redeemed by finding oneself through religious practices exist in society today. Oftentimes a man or a woman is convicted of a serious crime, such as, murder or domestic violence and faces up to many years in jail. After finishing his or her sentence, many of these individuals are found to have devoted themselves to God in order to be forgiven and establish change within them. A concept such as this is not only prevalent in real life situations, but comes to the attention of readers as the topics of morality and change are discussed in literature as well. Specifically, the short story titled A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O’Connor suggests humans have an innate tendency to change for the better when faced with severe punishment or even death. Through the use of literary elements and religious ideals, Flannery O’Connor implies that although the means for change are always present, one might not go about achieving change in a moral way because of cynicism and a false perception of oneself.

The author begins addressing, explicitly, the Grandma’s false perception of her morality by using indirect characterization. It is quickly established how highly the Grandma thinks of herself and how being a “lady” excuses her from being considered anything else, despite her being a racist and an inconsiderate human being. Flannery O’Connor quotes the Grandma discussing her differing opinion regarding the family’s vacation destination by stating, “You all ought to take them somewhere else for a change so they [can] see different parts of the world and be broad. They have never been to east Tennessee” (423). By pointing out the Grandma’s criticism of this desired destination and providing a ridiculous reason for not wanting to go, the author is slowly pulling apart the Grandma to provide the reader with a real sense of who she is. Quickly after this mishap, negative comments are made from the Grandmas point of view regarding “Negros” as the family begins their journey towards their destination (424). As the author continues to shed light on attributes the Grandma possesses, it is clear to the reader that the Grandma is a racist and a hypocrite. The story becomes more ironic when the Grandma states another one of her virtues, which she believes differs from children of the present time. She claims, “Children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else” (424). The hypocrisy continues to build, as it is clear that she is the one she should be lecturing about respect given her racism and desire to dissemble everything. After stopping for food and continuing on the road, the Grandma recalls a house on a plantation that must be near by. The family goes down a path to the house only for the Grandma to realize that the house she was thinking of resides in an entirely different state. She then causes an accident, refuses to ever reveal her dishonesty, which both land her into the hands of the Misfit (428). As the Misfit slowly brings the Grandma’s family into the forest and murders them, she never once begs for him to spare any of her grandchildren. This detail allows the reader to come to a verdict in which it is abundantly clear the Grandma lacks any morals, and most importantly, how she has a completely skewed perception of herself. That is until the Grandma is facing death, when one sees her begin to analyze herself. At first, she uses her virtue of being a “lady” to defend herself when she realizes the Misfit is now going to kill her. She assumes that he will have similar morals to her and spare her life. But when this doesn’t happen and the Grandma is on the brink of her deathbed, one sees her become accountable for her mistakes. She states, “Why you’re one of my babies” (433). The religious comparison she makes between her and the Misfit proves that she has gained an understanding for her mistakes, just as she offers to forgive the Misfit for his. Unfortunately, the Grandma was always given the means to better herself but decided to change and see through the false perception she created when it was too late.

The Misfit on the other hand, shares that he is fully aware of his lack of morals, yet uses cynicism to excuse him of his wrongdoing. When the Grandma approaches him and tries to convince him that he’s a good man he replies, “Nome I ain’t a good man..but I ain’t the worst in the world neither” (430). The author uses direct characterization in this instance to address the major differences between the Misfit and the Grandma; he is self-aware and she isn’t. In addition to this, the Misfit discusses his experience in the penitentiary and explains how he believes that all crimes are the same because each person eventually forgets what he or she was punished for in the first place (431). This leads the Misfit to believing that it is moral to commit any crime he desires, as he provides consistent ideals behind his opinions. Although these opinions are not acceptable and are against the law, the Misfit differs from the Grandma in a positive way because he actually acts according to his beliefs. The author takes the religious beliefs of the Grandma and pins them against the Misfit’s to provide a more distinct difference between the two. As both characters discuss Jesus rising from the dead, the Misfit suggests, “If I had of been there I would of known and I wouldn’t be like I am now” (433). Seeing as how the Misfit follows a set of moral code quite similar to what he states, gives the reader the idea that if the Misfit chose a more positive path for himself earlier in his life, then maybe he would’ve been influential in helping those around him discover what they truly believe in. Instead, he acquired negative morals and changed in a way that didn’t exactly lead him to achieving the kind of life he could’ve.

Through out the short story A Good Man is Hard to Find, the author conveys through the use of indirect and direct characterization how two characters, the Misfit, and the Grandma, both change when faced with severe punishment or death. As the story progresses, one sees a character who follows a set of his moral code, but in a cynical way; and a character who fails to follow the set of morals she claims to have. Even though change can always be achieved, it is often gone about when it’s too late or for the worst.

MLA:

1. Hager, Kelly, and Kelly J. Mays. The Norton Introduction to Literature: Instructor's Guide for the Regular and Shorter Editions and the Norton Introduction to Poetry. 11th ed. New York: Norton, 2002. Print. University of Iowa.

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