Flannery O’Connor quickly captivated my attention with her unconventional writing style in quirky short stories. More revelation than plot, her fiction was often considered crazy, because it didn’t follow the traditional story outline of her contemporaries. But as a devout Catholic, O’Connor was determined to base her writings around a “moment of grace” for her peculiar characters, as opposed to the standard rise and fall action of typical plots (Meyer 438). It is through these unique characters that she establishes the “Southern Grotesque” genre, a rich blend of dark humor and elegant southern drawl. With her distinguished voice, Flannery O’Connor uses character revelations to inspire profound revelations in her readers… producing from the madness, a clear message of faith. Though O’Connor’s message of faith may seem vague at first, deeper inspection of “A Good Man is Hard to Find” reveals this obvious theme in many of her writings.
An often misunderstood story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” brings to light the true meaning of “moment of grace” (O’Connor 445-455). This is the pivotal point at which a character can choose the right path, redeeming himself with the grace of God. Flannery O’Connor often presents this climactic moment in her stories using violence to get through to her audience. Many readers may miss the spiritual implications, however, because to them, violence and grace can’t coincide. Tragedy and violence may eclipse the pious meaning, but redemption is the strong theme behind “A Good Man is Hard to Find.”
O’Connor’s comical depiction of a dysfunctional southern family enhances the complex epiphany in her classic story. Any reader with roots in the deep-south instantly recognizes her unusual characters as possible relatives. Each personality in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” reminds me of a bizarre person in my own family tree. The sullen and tight-mouthed Bailey is my Uncle Harrell. The snotty, rude children are cousins Mitzy and Clarissa (pronounced “Clarisser”). And the grandmother who considers herself a fine, God-fearing, southern lady is great-aunt Jean. Flannery O’Connor’s remarkable ability to relate strange characters to people everyone knows, develops the vivid imagery that make her stories so universal. This commonality helps a wide range of readers understand the epiphanies O’Connor tries to pass through her stories.
The ultimate epiphany comes at the end of “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” with the grandmother’s untimely revelation. While the grandmother considers herself a good Christian, her arrogant mannerisms and racist thoughts expose the flaws of her character. When the grandmother and her family come face to face with a notorious criminal, The Misfit, her faith is tested. In a horrifying scene, The Misfit and his gang murder her family, leaving her begging that he “wouldn’t shoot a lady.” Suddenly, she loses her faith that Jesus will save her. O’Connor then introduces the grandmother’s “moment of grace.” Her head clears, implying that her faith has returned and God has given her the answer. The Misfit shoots her anyway (O’Connor 454-455). The profound message O’Connor is trying to send is that it took this tragic event for the grandmother to follow her faith and become a good person, suggesting that the reader should not wait for a catastrophe to see the light.
Flannery O’Connor’s unique “Southern Grotesque” style creates a remarkable story with an inspiring theme. Her unconventional pairing of violence with holiness fits seamlessly into the short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” O’Connor tests the readers’ faith, while providing entertaining characters and situations, for truly unparalleled writing.
Works Cited
O’Connor, Flannery. “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” The Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 445-455.
Meyer, Michael, ed. The Bedford Introduction to Literature. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 438-444.
