Examples Of Foreshadowing In A Good Man Is Hard To Find

In the short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor (1953), that the author presents the meaning of a “good” man and a “good” woman through foreshadowing and irony. As the reader, I feel consumed with the twists and turns the story takes. The author’s words foreshadow the tragedy that occurs on the dirt road, although the characters fail to perceive the obvious events that follow. For instance, the author foreshadows by alluding to the Misfit’s encounter by mentioning the possibility of the family running into the Misfit during their travels (O’Connor, 1953).

The author utilizes Bailey’s mother in order to foreshadow pending events. For instance, when Bailey’s mother states that “in the case of an accident, anyone seeing …show more content…
304). Therefore, in this instance, Bailey’s mother presents herself as a proper southern belle who is wise, genteel and a rather “good” Christian. However, as the reader, I find that her actions reveal her as that of a self-centered, racist, who lies to others with only her own well-being in mind. A true reflection of Bailey’s mother presents itself strongly within the children, John Wesley and June Star’s actions. These rather superficial definitions continue throughout the story as grandmother later pleads with the Misfit not to shoot “a lady”, although the Misfit’s actions have nothing to do with his etiquette (O’Connor, 1953).

When reality strikes and Bailey’s mother engages in a close encounter with the Misfit, she begins engages in a change of her own values when faced with the possibility of true death. An example includes the author’s articulation that, “She would have been a good woman […] if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life” it reflects that although grandmother always thought of herself as “good”, she was only “good” at the end, when death was inevitable (O’Connor, 1953, pg. 308). Overall, situational irony occurs strongly because the Misfit is indeed an evil

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Examples Of Foreshadowing In A Good Man Is Hard To Find