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.