Reaction Paper in "A Good Man is Hard to Find
"A Good Man is Hard to Find" is Flannery O'Connor's most famous short story and it embodies the author's style, tone, and point of view on American culture. Set in the South, "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is a foreboding tale that has correspondingly dark elements of humor. Unafraid of frank depictions of violence, O'Connor conveys a sense of hopelessness that may be associated with modern life. In "A Good Man is Hard to Find," an otherwise ordinary grandmother meets with a murderous ex-con called The Misfit. The two eventually have it out verbally. The grandmother's attempt to show the Misfit the potential merits of Christianity results in her murder. The Misfit remains disillusioned with religion, morality, or familial love. Half horror story and half social commentary, "A Good Man is Hard to Find" exemplifies Flannery O'Connor's perspective on modern American society.O'Connor's audience could be anyone, young, old, rich, poor, educated or not. The story is short and easy to read. Although perhaps unsuitable for yo
Humor is subtle and dark in "A Good Man is Hard to Find." Like an episode of Six Feet Under, the short story uses death-related imagery as an element of humor. Much American humor is peppered with violence and death, from Tarantino films to the Sopranos. O'Connor, writing decades before such shows were on the air, ushered in an era of modern social commentary that used violence and irony as humorous elements. O'Connor is not glorifying the Misfit's actions but rather, using the story to show how spiritually bereft American culture has become. When The Misfit states that Jesus has "thrown everything off balance," he reveals an ironically thoughtful and intelligent side to his personality (p. 1802). His disillusionment with religion and the inability of religion to help him save his soul are symbolic of American culture in general: the Misfit's irreverent comments and his murderous actions reflect a spiritual sickness and emotional despair at the heart of modern American society. While not all is as bleak as O'Connor
Some common words found in the essay are:
Flannery O'Connor's, South Hard, Misfit Jesus, Hard Grandmother, Red Sammy, Sopranos O'Connor, Six Feet, american culture, Flannery O'Connor, short story, social commentary, american society, flannery o'connor's, modern american, modern american society,
Approximate Word count = 689
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
