Change

A detailed Summary of Change

In Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find", a large deal of irony is used to express her views on how people and culture changed. O'Connor used the grandmother as a key component in the story because of her personality and also because of her old age. O'Connor was able to show her feelings about the devaluation of respect for family and elders through the grandmother. The story's idea probes into deeper things than just respect.

The beginning of the story is an essential part to expose the reader to the impression that the grandmother is little respected to by any members of the family. The grandmother begins by telling Bailey, her only son, not to take the trip to Florida because she had just learned that a crazed killer by the name Misfit is on the run in that area. But when this argument brought upon the family, "Bailey didn't look up from his reading so she wheeled around then and faced the children's mother,"(117). The mother also showed the same actions as Bailey did. An important element in this scene was when the grandmother was astounded that her family totally ignored her, that Bailey is willing to take his family into such a place with possible danger. "I wouldn't take my children in any direction

The family's encounter with Red Sammy serves as another outlet for O'Connor to express how trust and respect have begun to wear away. As Red and the grandmother began to discuss better times, their discussions leads them to learn that they both share the same views that modern life and society have been changing for the worse. Red Sammy explained, "A good man is hard to find. Everything is getting terrible. I remember the day you could go off and leave your screen door unlatched. Not no more"(122). A perfect example of the situation, which Red and the grandmother talked about, was when Red's wife was admiring how cute June Star. When Red's wife joked about if she would like to come and stay with her, June snapped back with, "No, I certainly wouldn't. I wouldn't live in a broken down place like this for a million bucks!"(121) At this point it is important once again to see how the parent's role is incorporated in the story. Not at any point where the children ever scolded or disciplined for their actions, but they only sat back and ignored what was going on. The grandmother once again had to take it upon herself to scold June Star for making such a rude comment to the woman.

In the end, I believe O'Connor was able to transmit her ultimate message about society and culture in the modern world. The world is an ever-changing place and it is human nature to follow your own road, whether it is wrong or right. The strive to be free is not a great way of life which religion nor education can overcome. The grandmother represented a dying group of people, who are being replaced by a new generation, which is very different from ones of yesterday. The people of this day and age will have to pay sometimes, and society already shows the shotgun wounds to prove it.

The aspect of this story that made it even more powerful was to include the children in playing a role that was much si

Some common words found in the essay are:
Flannery O'Connor's, Ironically Misfit, Red Sammy, June Star, Pitty Sing, Star Red's, John June, Finally Bailey, Misfit Bailey, june star, trip florida, grandmother recognizes misfit, recognizes misfit, misfit grandmother, o'connor able, grandmother recognizes, red sammy, red's wife, ironically misfit, red grandmother,

Approximate Word count = 1272
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English