Hippolita In A Good Man Is Hard To Find

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Recommended: Character analysis of "A Good Man is Hard to Find

Various works of 18th and 19th century Gothic literature serve as critiques of established systems or even challenge social norms of their bygone eras. Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto, considered the first true Gothic novel, illustrates the stifling abuse of power practiced by men upon women during the time of its publishing. Many of the chief female characters of this novel are intelligent and willful, despite their subservient positions beneath the powerful men that ruled over their lives. The exception to this statement is Hippolita, an “amiable lady (Walpole 27),” and a perfect example of the product created by the male dominated society of the era. Hippolita is a pious and loving wife to Manfred, the Lord of the castle, who, despite …show more content…

However, it continues to follow the precedent set by previous Gothic stories of critiquing contemporary establishments, namely religion. This particular short story critiques Christianity in America and how it can often be used only when convenient. The central confrontation between the grandmother and The Misfit in A Good Man is Hard to Find highlights this sentiment. The grandmother brings up praying to Jesus in the hope that she can convince The Misfit to spare her life by appealing to his religious sense. In desperation she dishonestly tells him, “I know you're a good man (15 O’Connor).” With the end of her life rapidly approaching she attempts to use that which is supposed to be holy and sacred to her to manipulate him into lengthening her earthly life just a little bit more. This seems a bit hypocritical for a woman who is pushing The Misfit to repent and rediscover his religion. Having lived so long as a seemingly devout Christian should she really be so terrified of death? Is attempted manipulation really the last thing you want to do in life before you meet God? It turns out, however, that The Misfit has probably thought about Jesus more seriously than she has. He says to her, “If He did what He said, then it's nothing for you to do but throw away everything and follow Him, and if He didn't, then it's nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you got left, (O’Connor 21).” The Misfit's doubt in Jesus leads him to think that there is no real right or wrong, and no ultimate point to life. When faced with a life-or-death situation the grandmother chooses to do whatever she can to preserve her existence for as long as she can, a very natural and human decision, but perhaps not the right one when viewed under the microscope of her religious beliefs. O’Connor, herself being a devout Catholic, uses this short story to

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