A Good Man Is Hard to Find

One of the major themes in Flannery O'Connor's short story, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," is largely represented in The Misfit and The Misfit's speech on page fifty-six: "...I call myself The Misfit...because I can't make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in punishment" (O'Connor 56). O'Connor is critical of societal pressures and how forgiveness for some individuals seems almost impossible; her main argument being that perhaps one of the reasons that "a good man is hard to find" is due to society itself.

For your blog posting, choose TWO of the four questions to answer in short-paragraph form [at least four-five sentences per question].

1. Do you agree with O'Connor that societal criticism is difficult to overcome? In other words, do you think finding forgiveness in the U.S. society is difficult? Why/ why not? Bring up a specific event from U.S. current events/ history that supports your view.

I do find forgiveness difficult to find, people sometimes just hear one side of the story. The Misfit never got to tell his side of the story when he got put away all the authorities thought was that the misfit was crazy and killed his father.

4. What do you think the last line of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" means? The Misfit states: "It's no real pleasure in life" (O'Connor 57). How does this statement connect with O'Connor's main theme of the short story? Attempt to make connections in your answer and cite a specific quotation from the story.

I feel that the Misfit does not want to be bad but has no other choice (in his eyes). In a television show i watch a guy started killing people and it became an addiction and he couldn't stop even though he wanted to. I think the Misfit is scared to tell people that he is wrong without them dyeing.

On page sixteen of Lahiri's short story, Mr. Kapasi makes observations of the Das's children: "Mr. Kapasi noted that this boy was slightly paler than the other children" (16). What is "foreshadowing"? Why does the author focus on this moment and how does it foreshadow what may occur in the story? What did you first suspect when you read this line?

Foreshadowing is giving hints of the future in writing. When i read this i actually thought that he was albino but when he said slightly paler than i thought it could be something else. Saying the boy is paler can raise many eyebrows on why is this so significant.

The End

How does the book end?!?! Did you enjoy how the author, Carol Plum-Ucci, concluded the story? Why/ why not? If you were the author, how would you have ended everything? Be very specific in your answer, and pull a quotation from the text as to what you liked/ did not like?

Torey transferred schools because he realized he is mentally unstable in Steepleton when he saw the dead body it wasn't creed it was Digger. The ending does leave you wondering and asking questions. If I was the author i would have ended it with all questions answered but i do like how Carol ended it because it's her book and I enjoyed it.

Dishonesty Breeds Dishonesty/ Ch. 17

In life, many cynics believe that the only person that an individual can completely trust is oneself. Why do you agree/ disagree with this philosophy? After reading chapter seventeen, do you think Torey should adopt this philosophy? Provide evidence from the book for your response.

I do agree with this, I feel you should have friends and someone to talk to but you should always watch out for who you should trust.I don't only think Torey should follow this but everyone especially with the reputation Steepleton has, no one can be trusted. Torey can talk to his friend burt needs to stay independent and watch what he says to his friends and other people.

Torey's Lyrics

Torey shares some of the lyrics from his band on pages 66-68. Choose two of these lyrics and explain what their significance is for Torey's life. Then, finish the song that Torey started--use any details about Torey's characterization or life in South Jersey to help you.

Is he alive or is he dead?

Freight train running all thru my head...

'cause if you're not really here
then the stars don't even matter
now i'm filled to the top with fear
that it's all just a bunch of matter

i looked up into the night sky
and see a thousand eyes staring back
and all around these golden beacons
i see nothing but black

so keep your friends close

and your enemies in you pocket

cause life in this town

is running short to

forget the ones you love.

Issues in Our American Society

After reading two of the articles, write a one-paragraph response to each.

Should I Take a Job Promoting Cigarettes?

This article is short but gets to the point. It talks about how if you took a job promoting something deadly how would you feel about promoting it. The author related this story to his own life when he wrote for a show on NBC which was associated wit GE (General Electrics) a company that manufactures weapons, and how he did not feel right working for them. My view on this article is, if you are manufacturing a product you are not promoting if, you are not making magazine articles or commercials on tv it is not as bad at it sounds enless your name is on it.

Locked Away Forever?

My view on this article is if someone did a crime and no one did anything about it there is something wrong. People should suffer the consequences. For the people who are underaged by they time they become an adult they should know what they have done wrong that they should change, but if they come back to the court for another crime the should be put away for life.

The "Birds" & The Bees

Neither Momma nor Vivian ever discussed the facts of life with Ms. Angelou, leaving her with questions she is afraid to ask. The result of this is that Ms. Angelou conducts her own research and draws her own faulty conclusions. This is a dangerous thing to do, as Ms. Angelou becomes confused and disillusioned about intimacy, and ends up pregnant.

There are a lot of "what if" questions that can be drawn from this chapter. With a partner or by yourself, consider the following questions, and write your own opinions about them.

What is the likelihood of Ms. Angelou becoming pregnant if Momma or Vivian had discussed the subject with her earlier?

The likelihood of Ms. Angelou becoming pregnant if Momma or Vivian had discussed the subject with her earlier is very slim, when people talk about pregnancy they talk about marriage first and how you should get married before you have sex. Marguerite did not know that so now she is pregnant.

What if Ms. Angelou had never been sexually abused? Could her pregnancy have happened anyway? Why or why not?

If she was not sexual abused she probably would not have gotten pregnant to begin with because she still didn't know about it because she never asked questions.

What would happen to the baby's father if Ms. Angelou's uncles knew?

Marguerite would have to explain herself first she would have to say if she wanted the sex or if she was pressured. If she was pressured her uncles would probably kill the father.

Would Ms. Angelou have experimented with sex on her own if she hadn't been raped as a child?

I think she wouldn't know what sex was and that she would eventually get pressured into it.

What if she never got pregnant at this age, would it have changed her life?

If Marguerite did not get pregnant she wouldn't of had the baby and it would probably have changed her live dramatically because not having a child can give u more time, she would have had not stress about tewling her parents.