Writing Question

ZX 1 Zicheng Xu 03/11/2024 Grandmother’s Last Plea for Mercy Stephen Bandy’s interpretation of the Grandmother’s final plea in Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is a powerful viewpoint that deserves consideration. I agree with Bandy that the Grandmother is “resorting to her only remaining weapon: motherhood”. Bandy thinks that the Grandmother’s invocation of motherhood in her plea to the Misfit is an act of selfpreservation, as she uses her last remaining weapon to try to save herself from imminent disaster. This view emphasizes the Grandmother’s manipulative nature and her proclivity for self-interest. However, an alternative viewpoint contends that the Grandmother’s plea is based on a true confidence in the power of Christian decency, which she reflects onto the Misfit despite his declared nihilism (O’Connor 130). By evaluating the text, thematic issues, and character interactions, it is feasible to determine the intricacy of this critical juncture in the narrative and weigh the merits of both readings. Bandy’s view of the Grandmother’s final plea as an act of self-preservation is based on a cynical assessment of her personality and intentions. Throughout the novel, the Grandmother is shown as a manipulative and self-centered character motivated by a need for attention and control. Her acts, such as manipulating her family’s trip plans and striving to persuade the Misfit of his humanity, are frequently motivated by selfishness. Bandy says that the Grandmother’s plea to the Misfit is consistent with her previous behavior, which includes a tendency to manipulate others to attain her goals. This viewpoint implies that the Grandmother, who is known ZX 2 throughout the novel for her self-centered and manipulative personality, employs this approach out of survival rather than a real request for pity. Bandy contends that this behavior is congruent with the Grandmother’s personality, depicting her as greedy and willing to sacrifice others for her own gain. The Grandmother’s manipulation of family relationships may be seen throughout the novel. Her insistence on visiting an old plantation mansion, motivated by nostalgia and a need for control, puts the family directly in the path of the Misfit. Even in the midst of peril, she prioritizes her own safety, striving to persuade the Misfit via appeals to his humanity. Her final plea, evoking motherly words, can be interpreted as a continuation of this pattern of manipulation, a desperate attempt to save herself from approaching death. However, a different interpretation of the Grandmother’s plea provides a more nuanced picture of her personality and motivations. Notwithstanding her imperfections, the Grandmother frequently uses religious language and imagery to underscore the value of morality and religion throughout the narrative. She maintains the conviction that even the most morally reprehensible people can be saved, despite her own moral shortcomings and hypocrisy (Antari 398). Using the language of spiritual connectedness and familial ties, the Grandmother extends her last wishes to the Misfit. Notwithstanding the Misfit’s apparent moral depravity, this gesture seems to be an earnest attempt to appeal to his humanity and potential for redemption. The fact that the grandmother was utilizing her role as a mother as her final line of defense provides additional support for the analysis of her plea as a desperate attempt at selfpreservation. Mark T. Mitchell’s piece “What Have I Done”: Reason and Responsibility in “A ZX 3 Good Man Is Hard To Find” notes that the grandma recalls her real-life mothering experience when she hears the Misfit’s gunshot. Rather from being a remembrance of love she has given, it is a memory of love she got. Her self-centered reaction to the threat and the sound of the Misfit’s rifle is used in the article to describe her sudden epiphany. The grandmother is considering her own safety at that precise moment. She is demonstrating her selfishness by attempting to preserve her own life at the expense of another person’s. She is able to recognize and acknowledge her motivation, which is self-defense—her final line of defense after the family and the Misfit. She doesn’t have any justification to step up and declare that the Misfit is her child, as she claims in her appeal, given her awareness of her own selfishness and her dread of being threatened. All she wants is to escape the impending death. As a result, we are able to examine an alternative explanation for the Grandmother’s plea by examining her use of motherhood as her final line of defense. It demonstrates how her survival instinct and self-centered nature drove her to make her plea, not for the benefit of the Misfit. It is possible to read the Grandmother’s request as a projection of her own deeply held Christian views onto the Misfit. Because of her belief in the transforming power of grace, the Grandmother sees potential for goodness and redemption in him despite his declared nihilism. Her reference to motherhood might not be a premeditated ploy to manipulate, but an honest effort to touch the Misfit’s buried humanity by evoking the common tie of love and compassion from family. O’Connor uses nuanced storytelling devices to imply that the Grandmother’s request is not just motivated by self-interest. Her remarks cause the Misfit to respond with such profound ZX 4 bewilderment and unease that it appears like something deep within him is drawn to her appeal. He shoots her three times in response, violently rejecting her attempt to communicate with him. His behaviors afterward, nevertheless, indicate some internal strife and moral quandary as he mulls over the meaning of her remarks (Gentry 146). This implies that the Misfit is drawn to the Grandmother’s plea on a deeper level, which challenges his pessimistic outlook and forces him to consider the possibility of redemption. It makes sense to interpret the grandma’s pleading as an effort to control the Misfit’s feelings. Acknowledging that pleading with the Misfit might not be enough, she appears to make an effort to ‘connect’ with him on an emotional level by telling him he is a wonderful man. The grandmother’s urgent attempt to seize any chance to save her own life and the lives of her family members nearly seems like a psychological plea. This is especially interesting because, once her attempts to express her fear and worry towards the Misfit fail, she turns to cunning and aggressive tactics to make him fearful, which is almost like psychological trickery (Haddox 463). Nevertheless, it is not made clear in the text if the Misfit is moved to tears by the grandmother’s entreaty. It is only ‘assumed’ that the Misfit nodded to the mother of the children but not to the grandma. This suggests that he might have been persuaded in part by the mother’s explanation for the mishap. It’s also critical to take into account the stark contrast between the Misfit’s thoughts and sentiments regarding the grandmother’s forceful, inept attempt to manipulate his mind and the way he ultimately forced others to pull her away. Accordingly, the Grandmother’s last request has more meaning than just helping her to survive. It is a tangible instance of human connection that goes beyond prejudice and fear. As a fellow human being deserving of forgiveness and compassion, the Grandmother views the Misfit despite their differences. The strength of empathy and compassion, even in the face of seemingly ZX 5 insurmountable hurdles, is demonstrated by her plea. In order to address deep existential problems and enhance the narrative, Flannery O’Connor uses religious imagery and complex symbolism throughout “A Good Man Is Hard to Find.” The Misfit challenges conventional ideas of good and evil by appearing as a character who embodies both violence and weakness. A complicated interplay of power relations and moral ambiguity is seen in his encounters with the grandmother. The Grandmother’s last request can be seen as a desperate gesture with a hint of religion. She tries to build a bond with the Misfit based on humanity by bringing up parenting and family relationships. This instance reflects Christian theological ideas of grace and forgiveness, prompting readers to consider if redemption is possible even in the face of serious moral breaches. Conclusively, the ending of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” encompasses a multitude of interpretations that highlight the complexity of empathy and morality. A convincing viewpoint on the Grandmother’s last request as a calculated action motivated by self-interest may be found in Stephen Bandy’s study. On the other hand, a different interpretation contends that her appeal is a sincere faith in redemption and human decency. The intricacy and ambiguity of human nature are reflected in the fact that the Grandmother’s genuine intentions are still up for interpretation. Her attractiveness may stem from a genuine faith in the efficacy of Christian redemption, contrary to Bandy’s assessment, which highlights the manipulative elements of her persona. ZX 6 Work Cited Antari, Ni Luh Ade Ulan. “Semiotic Analysis on Flannery O’connor’s A Good Man is hard to Find.” ULIL ALBAB: Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin 1.10 (2022): 364-3372. Gentry, Marshall Bruce. “He Would Have Been a Good Man: Compassion and Meanness in Truman Capote and Flannery O’Connor.” Bloom’s Modern Critical Views: Truman Capote (2014): 135-149. Haddox, Thomas F. “Lingering” and “Incurable”: Flannery O’Connor’s Humor and the Game of Status in “Good Country People.” Women’s Studies 51.4 (2022): 457-469. O’Connor, Flannery. “A Good Man is Hard to find”[1953].” The Complete Stories (1972): 117-132.

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