A Good Man Is Hard To Find

In Flannery O'Connor's short story "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," the gruesome ending comes as somewhat of a shock. Through the use of foreshadowing, there are signs of an ominous end pervading the work. This story contains pervasive images of death to give hints and clues that lead up to the ultimate demise of the nameless family at the hands of the malicious Misfit and his henchmen. The grandmother, who is the center …

…Misfit replies by shooting her three times in the chest, bringing the long awaited tragedy, the death of the grandmother, to a reality. In conclusion, Flannery O'Connor uses strong imagery and symbolism to foreshadow the tragic events that occur at the end of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." Through characterization, attention to details, sequence of events, and dialogue the suspense is heightened before the surprise ending - the termination of the nameless family.