Existentialism in “a Good Man Is Hard to Find”

Existentialism in “A Good Man is Hard to Find”

Existentialism is a philosophical movement that developed during the 19th and 20th centuries. One of the first things one may notice about existentialism is the confusion and disagreement of what it actually is. Existentialism proposes that man is full of anxiety and despair with no meaning in his life, just simply existing, until he/she makes decisive choice about his/her own future. Existentialist literature is often writing about personal responsibilities and expresses the point that everyone has a right to live their life the way they choose to. (“Existentialism”) For Existentialism, when individuals finally realize that that they are the only ones responsible for their life and when confronted with problems in it, they are overcome with anxiety and fear. (“Existential”)

“A Good Man is Hard to Find” is a short story written by Flannery O’ Connor. O’Connor was an American writer whose writings always incorporated humor into a sad or devastating situation. O’Connor’s short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” embodies the following techniques as related to existentialism: deferring from normal means of upbringing to personal preferences, changing perspectives and attitudes of life for survival, making imperative decisions to facilitate the survival of adults and children.

O’ Connor uses a character known as the Misfit is this story to prove how you can change to be your own person. She used the existentialist approach by creating the Misfit. The Misfit compares himself to Jesus. As The Misfit previously stated in the story, when he was growing up he was the type of child who had to know everything and exactly how it functioned and worked. He says that because he can not know whether Jesus did what people claim for him has made him (the Misfit) like he is. He was raised a good boy and was taught morals and correct attitudes. However, he has the option to live his life his own way and the way that he desires. “God never made a finer woman than my mother and my daddy’s heart was pure as gold,” ( O’Connor)

O’Connor uses