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Foreshadowing In A Good Man Is Hard To Find

1313 Words6 Pages

In the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, Flannery O'Connor's explains in vivid details, a corrupt, unfortunate turn of events resulting in the gruesome death of a young family. This unexpected tragedy astonished readers because the plot was simple yet fascinating. It is easily recognizable hat every word and literary element installed in this story has a purpose behind its placement. O’Connor uses literary elements such as foreshadowing of the family’s fate, dramatic irony, and Biblical allusions to develop a well-planned, beautiful short story. Considered to be one of the best short story writers, Flannery O’Connor uses her life experiences to seamlessly blend fiction with reality. O’Connor was born in Savannah, Georgia and raised …show more content…

The story begins with a seemingly normal plot about a family’s road trip to Florida, and a stubborn Grandmother who stirs up trouble along the way. Before the trip, the Grandmother becomes fearful of meeting a recently escaped convict, the Misfit, and begs to take a trip to Tennessee instead of Georgia (O’Connor 177). However, the family believes that she is having irrational fears and proceeds with the trip as planned. After a while, the the talkative Grandmother remembers an old house she one visited, and manipulates the family into going. However, the house turned out to be in Tennessee, not Georgia, and upon realising the mistake the startled Grandmother jumped up and disturbed her bag and basket that the cat lye in (O’Connor 182). Consequently, the cat lurches onto Bailey, the driver, and causes the vehicle to roll over. Luckily, a car came along shortly afterwards, but the hearse like vehicle contained three men in it all welding guns. The family thought it was a miracle, but soon the Grandmother realises that older man was the Misfit, himself. Recognising the Misfit resulted in the murders of every family member. One by one they were taken into the forest while the Grandmother gave a devotional to the man. In the end, she was also brutally murdered by the convicts (O’Connor

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The story opens with a man named Bailey who is going on a trip with his family to Florida. However, his mother had other plans and becomes the "manipulative grandmother lecturing her apathetic son" (Sparrow). At first she tries to convince her son to change the trip destination saying ""(O 'Connor). It might be inferred that she meant well by warning Bailey about the prison escapee traveling in the same direction. Unfortunately, later in the story the reader finds out that .

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