Flannery O’conner Literary Analysis

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Janna Deardorff Professor Bonds Expository Writing 1013 Flannery O’Conner Literary Analysis Moral fiber digests in the twisted gut of a shocking experience; violence elicits the true north of a moral compass. In Flannery O’Conner’s story, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” she uses violence for a purpose. Each main person slowly develops as the story climatically progresses. The true nature of O’Connor’s characters flows out when violence erupts. The authentic personalities of Bailey, the Grandmother, and The Misfit emphatically reveal themselves when violence spews forth. The quintessence of Bailey’s personality authentically shows when Hiram leads him to the woods to die. After the crash, Bailey sits in the ditch, shocked and shaking. His teeth are clattering and “his face was as yellow as the shirt” (168). Bailey’s cowardly response to the crash climatically reveals who he really is. His awkward attempt at remaining in control of the situation is to no avail. Saying whatever shocking thing he says to his mother, stating the obvious, “We’re in a terrible predicament,” and the fact that through all of this he remains perfectly still, proves only that he is not an invincible or heroic man (170). Bailey’s shirt will not be torn open with a large “S” proclaiming his secret super power. He will not finally spring into action and save his family from this terrible predicament. As he leans on a gray naked pine trunk, the gray nakedness of Bailey’s personality authentically reveals itself when he shouts from the dark edge, “ I’ll be back in a minute, Mamma, wait on me!”(170). This emotional connection between Bailey and the Grandmother depicts a cherished relationship. In this tragic moment the last words she endearingly calls to him are “Bailey boy” (170). The lack of interaction between Bailey and his mother is not because of a lack of love. Bailey’s feeble

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