A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor Analysis Essay

One would think that grace is only offered to “good” people, but grace is given to people who seem least likely to deserve it. In Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good man Is Hard to Find”, the grandmother lives her life in a selfish, conceited way until she is face to face with death and her attitude changes. The grandmother shows her egotistical inside through her religion, references to her childhood, and manipulative ways. Her diction changes from self-centered to self-aware when she comes to realize that she has been wrong her entire life. Also, her hat, which symbolizes the lady she strives to be, is strippedd away and allows her ultimately to see her own selfishness. Alongside the grandmother, The Misfit, a runaway convict,  is living his life with zero regret and without a care in the world until he meets the grandmother who offers him grace right before her death. The Misfit experiences his own internal battle about politeness versus  deeper morality.  Overall, this story shows that selfish and vile people can be offered grace. 

Throughout the entire story the grandmother's egocentric heart is reflected through her devious words, childhood references, and religion. Before the family takes off on their road trip they discuss where to go; the debate between Florida and Tennessee. As Bailey, the grandmother's son, brings up going to Florida the grandmother is determined not to go because of a fugitive on the loose. In a desperate attempt not to go she tells Bailey that she “‘wouldn't take [her] children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose…’” (O’Connor). In “‘One of My Babies’ The Misfit and the Grandmother”, Stephen C. Bandy declares that “she does not hesitate to dangle before his eyes the horrifying prospect of his children's death” (Bandy). Just because the grandmother wants to go to Tennessee instead of Florida she uses the lives of her grandchildren as a threat; although, the family still goes to Florida. Being more concerned about herself, she will do anything to get her way. Later in the trip the grandmother continues to make snarky remarks as she complains that in today's society “people are...not nice like they used to be” (O’Connor). She continues to be a hypocrite while she points out the flaws in other people without evaluating her own heart. Bandy describes that the grandmother “trusts no one and has respect for no one who gets in her way” (Bandy). She is only concerned for her well being. One key detail about the grandmother is that she says she is a Christian. As the Misfit and the grandmother are talking, the Misfits henchmen kill her whole family. Doing the bare minimum to save her family, she tells the Misfit that he needs to “pray, pray” (O’Connor). As she says these things to the Misfit she never actually says a full prayer; her actions are not matching up with her words. If the grandmother is as religious as she says she is then she should behave differently. Altogether, the grandmother is selfish with her manipulative language, references to her childhood, and her religion. 

The Misfit struggles are beyond countable, but as he talks with the grandmother his internal battle between politeness versus deeper morality is blatantly obvious; alongside the Misfit, the grandmother fights with her own demons about her morals. The Misfit is trying his best as he apologizes to the grandmother because he “[does not] have on a shirt” (O’Connor). His concern for being shirtless is far more important to him than the petrified women in front of him. His politeness comes at an odd time in the evening because right before this his henchmen takes her son and grandson in the woods to kill them. This does not seem to faze the grandmother as she continues the conversation offering him one of Bailey's shirts. He is embarrassed about the fine details of himself, but then goes on to say that “crime don’t matter” (O’Connor).  He does not believe that killing people is wrong or hateful, but he does believe that he deserves to be punished. Mass murder does not seem to faze him like it does an average person. He has misguided morals, but so does the grandmother. The Misfit has this self-awareness that the grandmother seems to lack. He knows that he commits crime, even though he is not sorry for them, but realizes he should be punished for them. The naive grandmother, on the other hand, is blind to her actions.  She wears a hat to show that she is a lady and does not take it off until they are in a car accident when “her hat...came off in her hand” (O’Connor). The obsession of being a lady is overtaking her mind and gives her fallacious morals. Her hat symbolizes her strive to be ladylike and when the piece of her comes off her true colors shine through. Fighting the battle of politeness and true morals is something that not only the Misfit struggles with, but also the grandmother. 

Grace is something that seems like it will be shown to people who deserve it, but the grandmother and the Misfit are both offered grace even though they are sinful wretched creatures. Throughout the grandmother's life she struggles with being self-centered and only caring about herself until the very last moments of her life. She has this moment where she realizes that her and the Misfit are the same, so she physically reaches out to the Misfit and tells him that “you’re one of my babies” (O’Connor). She truly sees herself for the first time in her entire life. As she is being shown grace she offers the same to the Misfit. Before the Misfit killed the grandmother she “saw the man’s face...as if he were going to cry” (O’Connor). This is the moment the Misfit almost let his guard down, but after the grandmother touches his shoulder he shoots her. Although she dies, she goes in peace knowing her heart changes at that moment.  According to the critic “...grace was extended to the Misfit, he refused it” (Bandy). He is so close to a new beginning, but he shelters himself away once again. Even though he kills the grandmother he finds no joy in it like he used to. He claims that there is “no real pleasure in life” (O’Connor). Even though he does not take the helping hand who offers him grace, his look on life momentarily changes. Even though the Misfit did not take it, both the grandmother and the Misfit are offered grace despite being corrupt and sinful. 

Selfishness and hypocrisy feels as if they are only words to describe the grandmother as she projects this description through her religion, childhood references, and manipulative language. Up until her last breath she utters the words that change everything for her; a new start at the end of her life. The Misfit struggles with his own obstacles as he battles with politeness and deeper moral values. Similarities between the grandmother and the misfit goes to show how they both are selfish and vile in their own ways, but still can receive grace.