A Good Man Is Hard To Find By Flannery O Connor

Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” has a memorable protagonist, the unnamed grandmother. As the story begins, the irksome grandmother does not consider anyone else’s opinion about the vacation to Florida. Instead, she complains about going and eventually convinces the family to go to a plantation house that has a ‘secret compartment’. Unfortunately, the detour ends in a wreck and in death. Throughout the story, the grandmother’s selfishness, judgmental attitude, and excessive talking demonstrate the one’s actions speaks louder than words. To begin, the unnamed, grandmother is a very inconsiderate person. At the beginning of the story, Bailey the grandmother’s son, plans a trip to Florida. Unfortunately, the selfish

Oh look at the cute little pickaninny.”( O’Conner 5). In this text not only is she judging her grandchildren, but she is also judging the African American boy by calling him out by his name. She is being selfish because she is only thinking of herself. She is not trying to even consider anyone else's feelings, While on their way to the family vacation they decide to stop and eat at Red Sammy’s famous barbecue restaurant. After leaving the restaurant, Grandmother asks her son to stop at a plantation with a ‘secret compartment”. “And the story went that all the family silver was hidden in it when Sherman came through but it was never found,” said Grandmother. (O’Conner 12) The text is showing how the Grandmother is now trying to convince Bailey , by lying, just so she can to go to the plantation. Grandmother’s plan was to get the children excited about going so that they would worry their father until he drove to the plantation. While on the way to the plantation, Grandmother realized they were in the wrong state. Grandmother immediately panicked. Grandmother jumped so hard her cat woke up and jumped in the driver’s seat with Bailey. The text says, “The car turned over once and landed right-side-up in a gulch off the side of the road.”

After the cat causes the wreck, the family is stranded on the side road until they noticed a truck. Some men get out of the truck and grandmother says, “You're the Misfit!” “Yes’m,” said the Misfit, “but it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn’t recognized me.” (O’Conner 23). This text shows that grandmother speaks before she thinks about the consequence. Even after Bailey turns his head to his mother and tells her a lot of mean things, Grandmother continues to talk and get everyone in even more trouble. The text says, “Bailey turned his head sharply and said something to his mother that shocked even the children.” “Lady,” said the misfit, “don't you get upset.” “You wouldn't shoot a lady would you?” said the grandmother(O’Conner 20). Even after Bailey told the grandmother a few hurtful things, and the Misfit tried to comfort her, she still continues to ask questions and talk. Grandmother is now risking her and her family's life by