The Misfit

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Grace’s Converting
The Misfit and the grandmother, very influential characters, in a ghastly short story embody the meaning of grace. They both derive from the unlikeliest of backgrounds and appear undeserving of God’s gift. Flannery O’Connor wrote “A Good Man is Hard to Find” at a time when society truly needed the support of God’s grace. In the following short story, the grandmother and her family take a road trip to Florida and end up on the side of the road as the result of a car accident. Unfortunately, they encounter a trio of dangerous convicts who have a history of murdering numerous individuals. The Misfit, Bobby Lee, and Hiram kill each family member while leaving the unworthy grandmother as their last victim. The Misfit and the Grandmother …show more content…
The Grandmother’s attitude shifts throughout the course of the story. Unfortunately, this shift takes place a few moments before The Misfit murders her. Arthur F. Kinney states that “grace comes from an act of random violence or blinding pain which can be unwanted and bring suffering” (Kinney). In reference to the short story, the random acts of violence and blinding pain are represented by the murder of the Grandmother’s family committed by The Misfit and his followers. Due to these events, grace has arose. During the Grandmother’s dying breath, grace makes its appearance and the Grandmother murmurs to The Misfit, “Why you’re one of my babies. You’re one of my own children!” (O’ Connor). The Grandmother has finally encountered God’s sympathy and love which distracted her from the information that all of her family members have died. Individuals, such as the Grandmother, appear to not be deserving of God’s blessing. In reality, God touches the most unanticipated and maimed of people (Kinney). The Misfit reacts with rage and confusion to the Grandmother calling him one of her sons and shoots her three times in the chest. Subsequently, The Misfit, Hiram, and Bobby Lee look down at the Grandmother laying “in a puddle of blood with her legs crossed under her like a child’s and her face smiling up at the cloudless sky” (O’ Connor). It is evident the Grandmother …show more content…
Throughout Flannery O’ Connor’s short story, it is evident that even the most improbable of characters are worthy of God’s grace. This is a vital principle with regard to living a satisfied life. Flannery O’ Connor developed the protagonist, the Grandmother, to demonstrate that even egotistical people who lack moral values are capable of discovering the gifts given to them through weakness and sorrow. Although the story ends with the criminals murdering every family member, the theme and characterization show that grace can impact anyone, even the most unlikely of people. Grace represents the love and sympathy of God and provides humanity with a critical belief of following one’s desire to live in a fulfilled society. However, without signs of weakness or imperfections, grace ceases to
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