Southern gothic is a truly singular form of American literature that combines the grand emotions of romance, the eerie seclusion of small-town life, and a dash of Southern charm. Drawing from the genre of gothic fiction, Southern gothic incorporates elements of the supernatural and the uncommon. It possesses a grotesque quality, yet manages to captivate readers with its underlying goodness.
Mary Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” is often seen as a prime example of Southern gothic writing. The story includes characters that embody the traits typically found in the Southern gothic genre—individuals burdened with various physical and emotional scars. It explores the notion of innocence and raises doubts about its true existence. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the grandmother, a devoted churchgoer, initially appears completely innocent.
However, she is completely self-centered, racist, and a bigot. Instead of judging someone based on their actions, her belief system determines their goodness by their background, their parents’ qualities, and their social status in the community. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that she acts thoughtlessly without considering the consequences and takes pleasure in others’ suffering. For example, when she encounters the Misfit face to face, she immediately exclaims “You’re The Misfit! I recognized you at once” (O’Connor 1037), revealing her lack of consideration which ultimately leads to the downfall of her family. Her actions demonstrate her love for gossip and desire to show off her knowledge. When they stop at Red Sammy’s for food, she quickly brings up the escaped criminal – the Misfit – saying “Did you read about that criminal, the Misfit who has escaped?” (O’Connor 1034), showing her tendency to spread rumors and appear well-informed. While initially appearing purely evil, there may be more complexity to his character and morals compared to the grandmother.
The Misfit questions his religious beliefs and only believes in what he can see. He regrets not being present during certain events and believes that if he had been there, he would have known. He finds moral lessons in his actions and stays consistent in his morality, unlike the grandmother. The Misfit commits crimes, but he believes in their righteousness and considers them insignificant.
The main characters of the story come into contact with each other when the grandmother and her family are driving to Florida for a vacation. They have a car accident and meet the Misfit. Before leaving Georgia, the grandmother had read about the Misfit and tried to persuade her family to go to Tennessee instead, to avoid being near him. The grandmother’s desire to see her friends in Tennessee creates dramatic irony, as they end up encountering the Misfit and getting into a problematic situation. This element is a common characteristic of Southern writing.
The text focuses on the situational irony in the story, contributing to its southern gothic elements. Initially flawed and unaware, the grandmother experiences a change after talking with the Misfit. Recognizing her own wrongdoings, she tries to find redemption by connecting with him. In the end, she dies with a smile as she is able to improve herself before it’s too late. The Misfit acknowledges this by stating, “She would have been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.”
The typical grotesque qualities of Southern gothic accompany the ironic situations in “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” The Misfit, who was imprisoned for murdering his father, manages to escape but cannot remember why he was incarcerated. He confesses, “I forgot what I done, lady. I set there, trying to remember what it was I done and I ain’t recalled it to this day. Oncet in a while, I would think it was coming to me, but it never come.” (O’Connor 1039) He escapes from prison because he does not believe he committed patricide and emphasizes his father’s goodness and love for him.
Another example of the grotesque in Southern Gothic literature is depicted in the scene where the grandmother and the Misfit are engaged in conversation while the rest of the family is being brutally killed. Shockingly, the grandmother shows a disturbing lack of concern for her family’s fate, except when her own son is killed, upon which she cries out his name in distress. This event triggers a sudden desperation within her, prompting her futile attempts to dissuade the Misfit from taking her life. These horrifying acts of the Misfit’s escape, the family’s murders, and eventually the grandmother’s own murder serve as powerful portrayals of the Southern Gothic genre. In contrast to this element of grotesqueness, another characteristic often found within Southern Gothic literature is the presence of dramatic romanticism.
In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the initial lack of this quality is noticeable. Nonetheless, romance can be defined as “a strong, sometimes short-lived attachment, fascination, or enthusiasm for something,” or “a mysterious or fascinating quality or appeal, as of something adventurous, heroic, or strangely beautiful. ” The bond between the grandmother and The Misfit possesses a certain level of romance, although it differs from the conventional type experienced by a romantic couple. They establish a connection and during their conversation, their morals and beliefs become apparent.
The ongoing conversation between the Misfit and the grandmother appears to be significant and captivating to them both, even amidst the carnage inflicted upon the rest of their family. The dialogue only pauses when the Misfit commands the killings and when the grandmother screams for her son. This brief connection brings about the grandmother’s self-realization and enables her to pass away tranquilly. In Southern gothic, these aspects of the genre are frequently employed to convey a distinct or profound interpretation of the narrative, one that is not readily apparent or straightforward.
In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” O’Connor demonstrates that most people are sinners and that redemption can be achieved through faith. As a devout Catholic, O’Connor used this story to subtly convey religious propaganda, highlighting the influence of God and faith in a person’s life. She believed that violence in her stories would bring her characters back to reality and prepare them for their moment of grace. The aim of her stories was to guide readers towards finding God and fostering spiritual connections with others. O’Connor acknowledged that Southern literature often appears grotesque to Northern readers, unless it truly embodies the grotesque, in which case it is deemed realistic. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” encompassed all the characteristics commonly associated with Southern gothic, including its characters, the grotesque nature of the story, and the hidden romance. The plot’s irony foreshadowed the story’s ending, offering readers a clear indication of what would happen next.
