The Comparative Analysis Research of O’Connor’s Stories

The O’Connor stories are about showing us the way humanity is with others and mankind’s nature, she explains these in her works. “Most readers characterize clichéd speech as “empty” or “dead” and see the characters’ attempts at communicating by such speech as failed.” Not many people could understand the main ideas behind her stories without rereading it. In two of O’Connor’s stories, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1953) also “Good Country People” (1955), are both based off in the south and O’Connor observes the tension between old and the new south. The themes of the stories tell us about how being able to trust people could backfire at any time, also religious vs nonreligious people, and how cruelty affects many people.

O’Connor’s stories and filled with irony and the characters in the story show a lot of traits, Starting with “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” 'Yes, it's a beautiful day,' said the grandmother. 'Listen,' she said, 'you shouldn't call yourself The Misfit because I know you're a good man at heart. I can just look at you and tell.' (O’Connor, “A Good Man” 88) The grandmother tries to be compassionate, she is hoping she can get through to people, that she thinks she is a “bad” person. Even though the grandmother tries to impress people because she loves showing herself off being a “good” person. “If we had not already guessed the depths to which the Grandmother might sink, now we know. It is not easy to say who is the more evil, the Misfit or the Grandmother, and indeed that is the point. Her behavior is the manifest of her character.” (12 Bandy) This is important because Bandy talks about how far down the grandmother would do just so she can be better, even though she was being compared to the misfit.

Another Story by O’Connor is “Good Country People” this story shows us how religion is considered. “He was now nineteen years old and had been selling Bibles for four months. In that time he had sold seventy-five Bibles” (O’Connor 50 “Good Country People”) The reason behind this quote is that it has been established that Mrs. Hopewell and Joy are not interested in the biblical matter. “Most readers of “Good Country People” dismiss the cliché-filled conversations between Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman as such empty speech.” (Harris 11) This is important because most readers believe that most of the conservations between characters are all cliches and dull. In conclusion, the way people are religious and also how cliche people are in the story.

In the essay by Carole K. Harris “The Echoing Afterlife of Clichés in Flannery O’Connor’s ‘Good Country People’”, in the essay by Harris, he tells us about the cliches in the short story and what they mean. “Manley Pointer, having posed over the course of several days as a Bible salesman, makes off with the wooden leg of the duped and disabled Joy.” (Harris 8) The reason behind this quote is that it tells us even though he was a good countryman, he still can not be trusted. In conclusion, the idea behind this essay is to shows the cliche behind his writing and also what it means. In the essay by Henry T. Edmondson “‘Wingless Chickens’: ‘Good Country People’ and the Seduction of Nihilism” the essay talks about how seduction is being used and the beliefe of Nihilism. ““Good Country People” also teaches that a belief in nihilism is something less than a clear, rational choice; it is more likely an example of seduction. And contrary to what one may believe, those who choose the moral void of “nothingness” will not so much exercise their freedom as they will suffer a victim’s fate.”(Edmondson 49) The quote is important because it tells us “Good country people” use seduction and also gives the rational choice. In conclusion, Henry just explains how seduction is being used and the beliefe of Nihilism.

Also in the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by O’Connor. In the story, O'Connor explains what a 'good' person is like. We notice how the grandmother is used in the story as the meaning of a good person is like. We see how the same resemblance to what a grandma is like, even how it is in real life. Even though the grandma was nothing like how being 'good' is described, because her description is basically being respectful, also being humble and grateful. The misfit says 'she was a good woman' It is because she is his mother that he can indirectly assert that she wasn't much of a good woman and that the shock of facing a violent end to her life has forced her out of her harmful selfishness and, therefore: 'she would have been a good woman... if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.' In other words, if she had had a similar shock every moment of her life, she would have been sincere, caring and thoughtful--as she was for a moment just before her end--instead of complaining, nagging, spiteful and unceasingly troublesome. The end was good considering the whole story, even though it was very shocking and purposeful.

In “Good Country People” O’Connor uses irony in many ways, she uses the characters and there states. For example, Hulga uses her Ph.D. to make her sound a lot smarter than anyone else. An example of irony is where Mrs. Freeman’s response “some can’t be that simple” this means the reader is left with the impression that Hopewell will do things that will destroy her confidence. “The irony or sarcasm of an insider is motivated by a force of emotion unknown to someone who is not kin.” (Harris 13) The reason behind this quote is to show that irony and sarcasm are a big part of people’s lives, also O’Connor does put it in most of her stories. In conclusion, the big part of most of these stories is irony and how sarcasm is being used in most of these stories.

The essay “Good Country People: Overview” by John Ditsky, In the essay Ditsky explains how a good person is, and how being a “good” person would be more beneficial. “Ironical too are the names of the two women whose conversations parenthesize O'Connor's story. Mrs. Hopewell is heard talking to her employee Mrs. Freeman, whom she has hired because she and her husband were reputed to be 'good country people,'” (Ditsky 3) The reason behind this quote is that it tells us how them being good country people give them a higher chance of being more liked. In conclusion, we notice how Ditsky writes about the “good country people” and how much they benefit from being given that title.

Flannery O’Connor Showed her work by showing, a lot of traits, like how we try and find out what a good person means, what is a sinner and also who can be respected or not. This means that O’Connor writes from the place of a staunch believer, who looks at the world as it is and tries to talk to people about the evils that exist in society today. The works analyzed in this paper are structured in such a way that the reader is expected to decipher the meaning and intent of the story, an element that makes her work interesting and captivating. “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” (1953) and “Good Country People” (1955) is set in a place where they could travel and apply imagery to it’s setting of travel. Irony and symbolism are used in a comparable manner.