Good Man Is Hard To Find Irony

Without understanding the literary mechanics of a story, the underlying causes cannot be uncovered. Literary devices such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony are critical in understanding the roots of any story. These three devices are best suited to represent an important message that O’Connor intended to convey through her writing. Flannery O’Connor’s writing contains many subtle messages that are only unlocked through close study of the devices in her stories. The short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by O’Connor exemplifies the use of these three devices, and uses each element to not only contribute to the main theme, but also to bring small, individual ideas to the peripheral of the story. While foreshadowing, irony, and symbolism each work the story from different directions, each device ties into the idea that pride comes before the fall. O’Connor’s stories are grim and violent, and the use of foreshadowing helps to build a unique aura around “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” As the story leads up to the climax, O’Connor inserted several hints as to the eventual outcome of the family’s trip. Rather than prematurely reveal the ending of the …show more content…
Foreshadowing helps to connect the story and subtly introduces future events. Multiple references to The Misfit in the early part of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” introduces a threat to an otherwise unremarkable family vacation. While the story could exist without foreshadowing, the events in the story would not have as much significance until the story reaches its climax. Subtle foreshadowing builds tension and encourages comprehension throughout the story. On a basic level, foreshadowing ties the story together by introducing similar events and relating imagery, which makes the story flow smoothly. Without foreshadowing, this story would be bland and many plot elements would seem pointless until the story’s