Question

How does o'connor use foreshadowing to contribute to the story's meaning? explain at least two examples of foreshadowing and how they develop the theme of the story?

Answer 1

Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" contains foreshadowing, or hints of impending danger. Two examples of such foreshadowing related to the horror of the story's ending are the following:

1. In early passages of the narrative, the reader is informed that the Misfit is heading toward Florida, the same state toward which the family is going.

The grandmother does not want to go to Florida. To deter her son Bailey from taking his family to Florida on their vacation, she shows Bailey an article in the local newspaper. She tells her son,

"Here this fellow that calls himself The Misfit is aloose from the Federal Pen and headed toward Florida, and you read here what it says he did to these people...."

Further, because she wants to go to Tennesse, the grandmother reminds Bailey that the children have already been to Florida, suggesting that he and his wife should take a trip somewhere else. Her grandchildren taunt her. The boy, John Wesley, says that she should just stay home. The grandmother counters, "Yes, and what would you do if this fellow, The Misfit, caught you?"

(The family does head toward Florida and the grandmother's question to John Wesley foreshadows their encounter with the Misfit.)  

2. Later, after the family has left the highway and turned onto a dirt road, the grandmother startles her hidden cat, and Pitty Sing springs upon Bailey's shoulders as he drives the car. He loses control of the automobile, and the car turns over. Everyone survives, but the accident shakes them. The mother says hopefully, "Maybe a car will come along." As a car does appear on the road, the grandmother waves both arms to attract it. Three men get out of the car.

"Look here," Bailey began suddenly, "we're in a terrible predicament! We're in...."

The grandmother shrieked...."You're The Misfit!" she said. "I recognized you at once."

"Yes'm," the man said, smiling slightly as if he were pleased in spite of himself to be known, "but it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn't of reckernized me."