Examples Of Narcissism In A Good Man Is Hard To Find

Seth Andrews

Professor Citro

English 1102

1 February 2023

The Ramifications of a Narcissistic Grandma

Flannery O’Connor was a devout Catholic, considering herself a strong believer. Christians outlook on mankind is that all humans’ natural instincts are to be sinful, self-centered people who put their desires first. However, Christians also believe that God calls them to be loving, gracious, good-natured people who put others needs above their own. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, the self-centered and prideful character of the grandma is repeatedly underscored by her actions to her family. O’Connor then uses the horrific events that unfold as a result of the misfits actions to show readers how allowing one’s selfish desires

When faced with death, the grandma desperately tries to utilize religion as a last attempt to save herself as she remarks “”If you would pray,”...”Jesus would help you””(O’Connor, 130) , it acts as her final act of selfishness. Her immaturity in her faith is exposed when she begins saying “” Jesus, Jesus”” … “as if she might be cursing” (O’Connor, 131). Her egotism was so rampant that she was even willing to attempt to take advantage of Jesus to try and get her own way. However, the grandma goes through a genuine remarkable transformation at the end of the story as God “cleared her head for an instant” and allowed her to see her flaws and how similar her and the Misfit were. She realized that no matter how bad the things the Misfit had done were, her sins were just as bad as his. She extends an invitation of grace and endearment to him remarking “Why you’re one of my babies. You’re one of my own children!” (O’Connor, 132). O’Connor places a hefty amount of emphasis on this statement as it is the main tension point of the story. It represents the dismantling of the grandma’s selfish character and the introduction of a new altruistic and forgiving character. O’Connor uses this switch to point out the character change that living a life with Christ brings. In contrast to all the misfortune and death that was caused by lives centered on oneself, life with Christ promotes love, forgiveness, and peace. All of the inconsiderate actions of the grandma before her change hurt others, while her one action of forgiving the Misfit could possibly change his whole life. Her remark certainly had an impact on him as he “sprang back as if a snake had bitten him” and then changes his whole perspective of life as he goes on to state that there is “no real pleasure in life” (O’Connor, 132-133). The grandma’s forgiveness provokes him to realize the power of love and become aware of the pain that his