O’Connor, Flannery. A good man is hard to find. New English Library, 1962.
According to Mary Flannery O’Connor, she depicts that finding a good man is very hard. However, from her story where she uses the six family members which are Bailey, his wife, their three children and his mother, brings out diverse perspectives on the topic. The stories platforms changes from a home setting and goes to a road trip that Baileys family are to have to visit Florida. Nevertheless, Bailey’s mother was so inclined to visit East Tennessee where she has acquaintances, and she’s hoping that Bailey would listen to her. However, looming news that a criminal known as the Misfit escaped from prison was allover. He was also headed to Florida was a threat to the welfare of society, as brought out by various newspapers.
The narrator explains that although they understand the looming danger at hand, they still prepare and embark on the trip being led by Bailey’s mother and the grandmother to John Wesley, June Star, and the little infant. Although Baileys Mother was so against the trip to Florida, She seems to be very excited about the journey as she even leads the family to the car on the day of the trip. The narrator uses her to explain most of the events happening during the road trip. It’s also evident that she very well builds her trust with her grandchildren and even manipulates them to tender her desires meticulously. Bailey is characterised as very silent and antagonises the whole idea of the trip though by the push of her mother he has no choice but to take his family for a vacation. Bailey’s wife is also silent and only concentrates on the welfare of the infant she carries. The wishes of their granny sway the children and, in most cases, have no choice on the occurrences therein.
The narrator uses Baileys Mother to bring out the atmosphere of the story, which is the weather, the landscapes, and the general beauty of Georgia State. She also uses her to bring out racism as she refers to a Negro child as a pickaninny who cannot be compared to represent the white race’s standard. However, John Wesley antagonizes her idea of beautiful landscapes and even suggests an alternative route to avoid the states’ subjective views.
The fact that Bailey happens to be a man and agrees to take his family to a road trip against his will contradicts the whole idea that good men are hard to find since he also has the opinion to reject it or counsel the journey. The narrator still brings out this aspect using baileys mother narration of her story of her suitor Mr. Edgar Atkins Teagarden, from Jasper. The latter used to bring her a watermelon every Saturday. This only proves that good men exist are not as hard to find as portrayed by the topic. As she even confirms that Mr. Teagarden was a gentleman. (359)
The narrator also brings out Red Sammy butt as a gentleman who runs a barbecue and who served the Baileys family without any havoc. The narrator uses red Sammy, who narrates two fellows who robbed from his gas. The narrator uses Bailey’s mother to compliment him and to assure him that he is a good man. However, Red Sammy confirms that a good man is hard to find. But blames the change of human beings to the changing of things and times. The discussion between Bailey’s mother and Red Sammy shows the good times that existed before the dawning of the prevalence of crimes, as depicted by the writer. (360)
The writer brings out the craftiness of Baileys Mother and how she manipulated John and June of a non-existent of a secret panel house. This she does to get to Bailey, who is brought out as strict and focused on the road trip and does not entertain distractions. However, the cautious use of the children touches Bailey’s heart, who agrees to see this house that her mother very much desires to visit(361). Nevertheless, this ends them in a ditch since the road was not the same one that Bailey’s mother thought was. The one she referred to was in Tennessee but not Georgia. The accident creates a thick cloud of mistrust as Bailey’s mother knowing what she has done wishes she was injured to avoid the wrath of his son. This not only destroys their plans but also predisposes them to looming danger that is bound to happen to them. The narrator, at this point, does not only leave as curious about what will happen to this family but also creates suspense to the reader who’s also in the dark. The approach of the car from afar also creates mixed feelings since been in a ravine; anything is bound to happen (362).
The demeanor of the three men who alighted from the car also creates a dark cloud as the view of the guns changes everything. Bailey’s mother affirming that one of the shirtless guys is the Misfit, the prison escapee deems all hope. This is crowned by the shouting of Bailey towards his mother. This reaffirms the reader that all is done and nothing could have been raptured. This gives Bailey’s mother a wakeup call and she remembers that there is a God that can save her. The Killing of each one of them by Booby lee and Hiram to a certain extend confirms the writers topic. However, weighing the occurrences both the good deeds and the deeds propagated by the Misfit, the aspect of good men reigns as even Misfit himself confirms that he wasn’t always a bad person but was changed by the circumstances (365).