The novel A Good Man is Hard to Find written by Flannery O’Connor tells a story about a family that is going out on vacation. The story uses a couple of literary aesthetics to tell the story. One theme that stands out is his evident use of religion, and Christianity for that matter. Through the Grandmother and the misfit, one gets to see how a Christ- like incarnation and the grace of God are brought out. There is recognition of divine powers in the story but then one is not mislead when looking at the Misfit as an anti- Christ figure. Nevertheless, this theme is seen throughout the short story in the form of grace, good and evil as well as salvation. As expected of any religion men and women ought to be good and as the title itself insinuates, it is never easy to find someone practicing what religion or Christianity call for in all men. But to say the least, the story is a reflection of Christianity and how different characters perceive it, live by it or not live by it.
A good man is indeed hard to find but there is a possibility that they are present in the story. As expected of Christianity one is supposed to do ‘good’ and go their way and blessings will follow them, at least that is what is believed. Red Sammy Butts could be among the few people who reflect this sentiment as seen through his words when he was talking to grandmother. Red Sammy talks of how people used to be good in the past and how things have changed. It may have been a simple conversation but grandmother chips in and says that “a good man is hard to find” (O’Connor 2) Red Sammy may be a good man as is said by grandmother because going by his words and actions, he is one and that is what is expected of him, at least in Christianity.
Before O’Connor begins the story she offers a quote that says, “The Dragon is by the side of the road, watching those who pass. Beware lest he devour you. We go to the father of souls, but it is necessary to pass by the dragon" (O’Connor 6). Through the quote one is set guessing about the content of the story and upon relating it, the quote makes meaning when the revelations and relations to the characters are drawn. For instance, the Dragon could symbolize the journey the family takes to Florida and the appearance of the unexpected Misfit. And just like it is said in the quote, he finds the family on the side of the road and devours them ‘literary’ and delivers the grandmother to the father of the souls, who in this case can be equated to Satan, because the grandmother’s soul does not befit one that goes to heaven. Religious connotations are evident from this passage because it is believed that it is Satan or evil that does such things as are seen in the story.
The presence of Satan in the story is seen through the Misfit, who shows up from nowhere and by the mere combination of him with two other criminals making them three is a complete anti- Christ statement. Jesus is regarded the savior of mankind and he died for them so that they could live. But then the opposite can be said about the Misfit, his presence is a symbol of death, he is the villain here and he takes a complete outfit of the symbol of death, he worked as an undertaker in the first place, secondly, he drives a “hearse- like” automobile and this means that his presence is associated with death. It is no wonder that he kills what is alive. Just as his name insinuates and his actions show, he is not keen on seeing people live but would rather that they died (Doyle 4). Jesus could not have murdered the innocent as he does and by saying he is the ant- Christ, O’Connor succeeds in projecting Christian belief through this character.
Whenever the grandmother is communicating she likes using Christian terms and connotations. She also uses Christian language when she is talking to the misfit. For instance, she uses the words “pray, pray” and encourages them to pray. Perhaps this is how she faces challenges in her life, by praying. Her words and actions are exactly what are expected of Christians when they are faced with challenges. They are expected to pray in order to overcome the difficult times or challenges they face. When the family came face to face with the Misfit, she says “If you would pray, Jesus would help you.” This statement is a clear demonstration of the ideals of Christianity and that sins are only absolved when sinners pray and ask for forgiveness from God (Arthur 5). The grandmother insinuates that if the Misfit prays then his crimes will be forgiven.
Christianity is a major theme in this short story as seen through various characters. Good and evil are projected in the story just as they exist in Christianity and the story comes out as saying that evil can be propagated by Christians just as ‘good’ is propagated, at least the grandmother confirms this fact. Just like salvation is believed to be the solution to sins, it is in the short story and that is why the grandmother tells the Misfit to pray and ask for forgiveness of his sins in order to receive salvation. O’Connor succeeds in bringing out Christianity is the story through the actions of the characters. Flaws, sins and weakness are seen in the characters just as it is the case in Christianity. Looking at all the happenings in the story in totality, one cannot fail to see how Christianity plays a major role in bringing out the story.
Works Cited
Arthur, F. Bethea. O’Connor’s A Good Man is Hard to Find. Web retrieved on 22nd November 2014. http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.southtexascollege.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewe ?sid=49ad7a82-5da8-423c-9204-505b5322dfff@sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=119
Davis, J. Leigh, S.J. Suffering and the Sacred in Flannery O’Connor’s Short Stories. Web. Retrieved on 22nd November 2014. http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.southtexascollege.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewe ?sid=26a99fc0-ea59-42fc-94f4-16941643b359@sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=119
Doyle, Charles, Clay. A Good Man is hard to Find: The Proverb. Web. Retrieved on 22nd November 2014. http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.southtexascollege.edu:2048/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewe ?sid=4e15c51c-ed23-4693-a13e-ee703b2ef740%40sessionmgr113&vid=2&hid=108
O’Connor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1992
