Analysis Of A Good Man Is Hard To Find By Flannery O Connor

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Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, is an intriguing story filled with the use of many instances of symbolism ranging from landmarks to a character’s actions which can be seen as having a symbolic value. O’Connor includes a multitude of symbols which are subtle but important enough to provide inferences to the meaning of the story and even her own personal beliefs. She provides the reader with a sense of the character’s personalities throughout the story through the use of the dialogue and the actions of the characters. The author makes use of a style known as Southern Gothic, which she herself helped popularize (Lyle).This approach to writing provides a fulfilling experience and generally leaves the reader with a greater understanding …show more content…

While the family is being systematically murdered by the misfit and his crew, she pleads for her own life, Figueroa 4 showing little to no regard whatsoever for the rest of the family as they were being murdered. While the grandmother was conversing with the misfit and heard the gunshots which killed the rest of her family, she exclaims to the Misfit, “I know you wouldn’t shoot a lady!”(O’Connor 145). Again, this statement reveals the grandmother’s vanity. By relying on her own vanity to save her life, the grandmother reveals her true personality to the Misfit. O’Connor’s use of symbolism is one of the main elements in the story which truly brings about a greater understanding and depth to the story. By including many subtle symbols, she is able to bring the story into another dimension of realism and suspense. Her story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” engages the reader in a fashion which feels as if the reader is immersed in the work itself. O’Connor’s style of writing is simple yet effective due to her descriptive language. Her honing of the Southern Gothic style truly makes O’Connor’s writing one of a

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