The Use Of Glasses In A Good Man Is Hard To Find And Good Country People

Flannery O’Connor uses multiple symbolisms throughout her works, and one of them is the glasses that the characters wear. Although glasses do not serve the main importance for the progression of the story in itself in both “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, and “Good Country People”, it has its purpose of symbolism. In the two works, Flannery O’Connor associates glasses with the perspective and judgment that one possesses about the world surrounding them.

In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, the misfit’s glasses symbolize his viewing of the firm perspective and understanding of the world. The misfit in this short story is described as a traditional “good man” by the grandmother. For example, the misfit’s statement after Bailey shouts at the grandmother,

Moreover, by his eyes without glasses described as “red-rimmed and pale and defenseless-looking”, the author hints at the vulnerability of the Misfit without his clear view and judgment. By ending the story with “It's no real pleasure in life.”, the author indicates irony and the gaining of new insight by the misfit after killing the grandmother and taking off his glasses. This sentiment demonstrates that the misfit’s perspective and judgment, although a firm conviction, can still be influenced. Thence, the glasses, a tool that serves to help the misfit view the world clearer, symbolize his stance and judgment about the

in philosophy, is an odd, grotesque character. This could be seen when she changed her name from Joy to Hulga, as she chose to want an ugly name over Joy as she believed Joy to be a naïve name. She also holds a pessimistic stance and judgment about the world that there is nothing beautiful, as “she didn’t like dogs or cats or birds or flowers or nature or nice young men. She looked at nice young men as if she could smell their stupidity.” Such description of her depicts that she views nothing good about the world, and has pride in believing that.

Similar to the misfit, Hulga’s glasses serve as a tool to distinctively view the world, symbolizing her grotesque perspective and judgment about the world. However, the significant difference is that Hulga meets Manley Pointer, who can influence and alter her perspective.

Pointer is described as a bible salesman when he was first introduced to the story. As the story progressed, he was able to gain interest from Hulga, which was apparent when “she had thought about it half the night” to meet the pointer the next day. Later that day, during their date, they go to an isolated place to have