A Good Man Is Hard To Find

A detailed Summary of A Good Man Is Hard To Find

In Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," the gruesome ending comes as somewhat of a shock. Through the use of foreshadowing, there are signs of an ominous end pervading the work. This story contains pervasive images of death to give hints and clues that lead up to the ultimate demise of the nameless family at the hands of the malicious Misfit and his henchmen.

The grandmother, who is the center of the nuclear family, possesses many foreshadowing elements from her actions to her dress. Immediately, the grandmother opposes the plans to travel to Florida on vacation and requests everyone travel to Tennessee to visit family. The grandmother tried persistently to change Bailey's mind about Florida saying "here this fellow that calls himself The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida... I wouldn't take my children in any direction with a criminal... in it," (Pg.266). In notifying Bailey about the Misfit and his crimes, she foreshadows the coming events and the family's approach to doom. Despite the grandmother's warnings, the family decides to pursue their trip as planned. The

grandmother did not argue and was actually "the first one in the car, ready to go," just as June

The family soon stops to eat at The Tower, run by a couple named the Butts. Mrs. Butts confessed her fear of the Misfit robbing her cash drawer while her husband Red Sammy talks about lending credit to two men in an old but decent car. These two symbolic images serve as indicators of the Misfit's location.

element of excitement and exaggeration to enthuse the children. The family turns around and begins down the calm and dusty dirt road toward the plantation. However, suddenly Pitty Sing causes Bailey to flip the car into a ditch. Instead of being frightened, the children begin to joke and play about their situation. The children voiced their disappointment that "nobody's killed" (Pg.272). O'Connor used the word "killed" instead of "died" to foreshadow their death.

In conclusion, Flannery O'Connor uses strong imagery and symbolism to foreshadow the tragic events that occur at the end of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." Through characterization, attention to details, sequence of events, and dialogue the suspense is heightened before the surprise ending - the termination of the nameless family.

While they were pondering on what to do, "a big black battered hearse-like automobile... three men in it" tops the hill coming toward them (Pg.273). This is one of the final clues that O'Connor gi

Some common words found in the essay are:
Pg272 O'Connor, Flannery O'Connor's, Pitty Sing, Red Sammy, June White, Bailey Misfit, Flannery O'Connor, Pg278 Misfit, Pg268 Coincidentally, Federal Pen, five six, nameless family, despite grandmother's, foreshadows family, navy blue, grandmother begins, sequence events, pitty sing,

Approximate Word count = 885
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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A Good Man Is Hard To Find

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