The Grandma

Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a very odd short story. Firstly, the grandma is super annoying. She never seems to stop talking and she passes judgment on everyone and everything. She is incredibly egotistical because she never stops talking about her wants, her needs, or her opinions. Furthermore, her entire family is killed entirely because of the grandma’s actions. Had the grandma listened to the other adults for a second none of the murders would have occurred. She brought her cat when she was asked not to, she lied to the kids, and she did not admit her mistakes. Also, she even fakes an injury to be sympathized with… Her pride and self-admiration is what ultimately kills the family. She also never asks the Misfit to spare her family. She only wishes for him to spare herself. Even after she had ruined everything she is still only thinking about herself. In this story, everything is according to the grandma. Things are good only if she deems them so and she believes that people should live by her moral standards. She basically inconveniences everyone for her own selfish desires. It is interesting because The Misfit is actually a very self-aware and non-judging person. He seems very wise actually. When I was reading the story I really did not mind The Misfit even though he murders people for the sake of it. The grandma’s last line is thought-provoking when she says “you’re one of my own children!”  (508). I think that this is some sort of moment of enlightenment for the grandma. Maybe she realizes that it is not all about her. I think she begins to care about The Misfit just as she should care for her own children. At this moment, I think some of her egocentrism has diminished. O’Connor makes some powerful remarks throughout the story. I think that the main point is to consider others in everything. Nobody is worthy to pass judgment, and those who pass judgment are those who will suffer. The grandma considers herself a good Christian lady, but she is definitely hypocritical. Maybe by the end she is actually a Christian when she realizes that she is equal to The Misfit. I am not really sure what the whole deal is with her being obsessed with being a lady. To her, it is as if being a lady is the best thing a person can be. She even begs The Misfit not to kill her simply because she is a lady. A lady is a woman who obeys societal expectations of a woman: politeness, Christian views, femininity, etc. I guess the grandma believes that because she is a lady, she is superior to most people. This short story is very strange. I like it, but it definitely has a shocking twist to it. The grandma got what was coming to her which was sad but well deserved in some ways.