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Example research essay topic: Flannery O Connor Live His Life - 1,372 words

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The Role of The Misfit in A Good Man is Hard to Find In A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O Connor the reader is introduced to a character that first appears to be confused about life and religion but later comes across as more knowledgeable about religion and his own existentialist philosophies than the other characters portrayed in the story. This character, named The Misfit, represents the world and its nihilistic tendencies. He is the true reflection of what our world has really turned into and the thoughts and problems that our society faces. In A Good Man is Hard to Find the author, Flannery O Connor uses the antagonist, the Misfit, in order to reveal his views of society through the Misfit s interaction with the protagonist, the grandmother, as well as the questions and problems that all people contemplate but are afraid to actually discuss. Flannery O Connor s short story A Good Man is Hard to Find begins with a family preparing to take a trip to Florida.

The family is described as a typical modern family, which has all the problems that many such modern families face. They have trouble agreeing with each other and with every generation present within the family, a different view on life is expressed which causes the family to develop more problems. The grandmother wants the family to go to Tennessee, despite her family s ignorance of the issues, as the family has already been to Florida and there is also an escaped killer who is running rampant in that same area. The family ignores the grandmother s request and travels to Florida despite her protests. On the way the grandmother tells stories of the past and the way things used to be while the children continue to ignore her. While reminiscing about the abandoned plantation that the family passes on the way to their final destination, she comments on the temporal nature of material objects, stating that they are always, Gone with the wind (pg. 330).

This statement later turns out to be like foreshadowing of the future of this family. The ignorance of the family and the historical obsession of the grandmother all combine to lead into the arrival of The Misfit. After the family had an accident, having run off the road, they wait in the woods for another car to post. Shortly thereafter a car stops, a car that belongs to the Misfit.

When The Misfit sees that the family is helpless he immediately has his two cronies eliminate all the members of the family excluding the grandmother. While this is happening The Misfit stays behind to talk to the grandmother. It is in this conversation that we realize the significance of The Misfit and how he not only relates to the story, but how he relates to the world as Flannery O Connor sees it. In his conversation with the grandmother we see how even though he seems to be just a cold-blooded killer he really is a man who exemplifies the world in which O Connor sees it.

The Misfit is not a cold-blooded killer but actually a man who just lives for the moment. The Misfit says, Nome, I aint a good man, but I aint the worst in the world neither (pg. 336). Even though he kills he does it because he feels that personal freedom is the only true morality. The Misfit also seems to have a much better understanding of religion than even the grandmother does, even despite his clear immorality when compared to modern society. The Misfit says, Jesus was the only One that ever raised the dead, and He shouldn t of done it. If He did what He said, then it s nothing for you to do but the away everything and follow Him (pg. 338).

He s saying that he wants to believe in Jesus but he says that he can t. He says that if he were there when Jesus raised the dead he would be able to understand whether it was true or not. If he were able to see this he would know whether the religion and bible that people preach today is actually real. If he were able to preach that it was real then he would not be going around killing people because he would have something to live his life for.

He would be able to live in order to hopefully get risen from the dead by Jesus. In The Misfit s eyes seeing as no one today can prove whether this is true or not, the Misfit decides that he does not need to lead his life according to this theory. The Misfit tells the grandmother If I had been there I would of known and I wouldn t be like I am now (pg. 338). With his thoughts though he is able to even change the views of the grandmother before she is killed by his own hand. He brings to point many things that common people of the world think about but he is able to go beyond just thinking; he is able to actually solve his own questions by living his standards.

Even though his ways are not moral according to today s standards, they seem to give him an inner peace with himself and his thoughts. Even though he seems to be a bad man because of this he really is not as he lives his life existentially exactly how everyone should live their lives. Perhaps his methods for self-liberation are too drastic, but many people should at least be able to create their own beliefs and live according to their own religion. Through The Misfit we see just how far ahead of everyone else in his time he is through the grandmother s understanding of religion, or lack there of.

The grandmother in this situation is meant to embody the general public. The grandmother, when her life is on the line is not able to divert from the ways of the world and go along with The Misfit. When the grandmother says Why you re one of my babies. You re one of my own children! (pg. 338) you truly see her lack of religion.

What is worse is that she isn t even able to comprehend the religion that she apparently follows. Throughout The Misfit s conversation the grandmother can only think of one thing, keeping herself alive. All that she worries about is not being killed, she doesn t even seem to show any true remorse for her dead family. Her repeated statement Pray!

Jesus, you ought not shoot a lady (pg. 338). This is precisely what The Misfit wanted to hear. He wanted to hear her continue to follow the ways of the general public and only think of herself. If she truly believed in Jesus and that he is able to raise people from the dead then she would not have a problem with death. Once The Misfit is able to find a person that has no apprehension of death he will have his answer to whether or not Jesus really can raise people from the dead. If this happens he will no longer have to live his life in a criminal way but will be able to live according to the bible.

The Misfit s main purpose in A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O Connor is to bring about awareness of religion. He is introduced in the story to illustrate to people that they do not have to pursue the beliefs of others but can follow their own path. The Misfit is not just a perplexed psycho but a person that has learned to live for the moment under his own rules. O Connor really wants to bring awareness that people can live their life the way that they want to, according to their own beliefs. He only appears to be a criminal at times to let it be known that even though you ought to live your life the way you want, and find your own form of beliefs, but you should also follow the laws of the community in which you live.


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Research essay sample on Flannery O Connor Live His Life

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