Flannery O’Connor, born in 1925, was a writer of short stories and essays. Flannery was a southern writer, and the stories were based on the sardonic style and relied on violent, grotesque, and regional status. Through her writings, it was evident that it reflected the Roman Catholic in the Christian religion and mainly questions the moral values and ethics upheld by the Roman Catholic Church. Flannery won awards such as the d States National Book Award for Fiction in 1972. Flannery O’Connor used different literacy devices to pass the message in the short stories and the novels. For example, there is irony in the stories “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” “Good Country People,” and “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”
Irony in a story contrast what is written with what it means. Many authors use this to engage the readers and deliver issues in the community that may not be directly addressed. Flannery O’Connor uses situational, dramatic, and verbal irony to communicate the critical issues in society. Through irony, the reader gets vital moral lessons, and the writer can also create suspense in the story that gives the reader more reason to read and understand the story. Irony also allows the reader to anticipate a character’s activities actively. The irony is seen in the characters’ names, traits, and events. Therefore, in this essay, the use of irony in the three stories is discussed, and quotes from the stories are provided to support the literacy language.
A Good Man is Hard to Find
Firstly, there is irony in the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” The first instance of irony in the story is in the title. A reader projects that the writer seeks to communicate the hardships one may experience when searching for a good man. However, this is not the case since Flannery communicates the simplicity of finding a good man that only depends on the approach and outlook. Flannery shows the importance of outlook through the use of characters such as the grandmother. The character traits of the grandmother help explain the irony, such as the grandmother’s selfishness.
The grandmother refuses for the family to relocate to Florida and instead wishes to see Tennessee. The grandmother lies about a criminal found on the road to Florida to discourage the family from going to Florida. According to O’Connor (177), the grandmother shows the children Misfit who has escaped from the Federal Pen. Grandmother pushes the children to read on Misfit heading to Florida and therefore the risk towards heading to Florida. The grandmother informs the children that she cannot risk taking her children in the same direction as a criminal. The statement is filled with irony as Misfit later attacks the grandmother and her family.
It is also ironic that the grandmother wants to go for a vacation but still wants to choose the destination for the vacation. Flannery creates an ironic situation since the Misfit later murders the grandmother and her family. The grandmother uses psychological manipulation to prevent the family from moving to Florida. However, the irony is seen when the grandmother’s words actualize as the family meets Misfit, a criminal. The grandmother brings the family dangerous outcomes as meeting Misfit leads to the death of the children and the grandmother. It is also ironic that the grandmother considers herself a good role model while her actions show her stubbornness, selfishness, and racism. Misfit sees it fit to kill the whole family and the grandmother to prevent them from reporting him to the police. Therefore, the grandmother has to do anything to protect her family from the actions of the Misfit.
The grandmother addresses Misfit as a “good man” to earn Misfit’s sympathy. However, this is not the case due to Misfit being a criminal. The grandmother tells the Misfit that she knows he is a good man and that the Misfit is from a good family. The grandmother says this while screaming to seek Misfit’s sympathy (191). The grandmother wishes to distract the Misfit with the praises. The Misfit learns of the irony in this statement and replies ironically, saying, “finest people in the world” (192). Misfit knew the grandmother was insulting since Misfit wanted to kill the grandmother and the children. When Misfit escapes prison, situational irony is seen, but the grandmother refers to him as a “good man.” Therefore, this makes the Misfit angrier, and therefore, the grandmother causes more trouble for the family, contrary to the fact that the grandmother said she would not bring her children to any harm. The grandmother knows that she has caused her family more trouble.
There is also verbal irony in this short story. Grandmother says that the Misfit is a good person and cannot shoot a woman. The grandmother also informs the Misfit to pray to Jesus not to shoot a lady and suggests she would give Misfit all the money she has (198). This is ironic since although the grandmother seeks to use the Christian aspect to prevent their murder, the Misfit still kills them. Flannery uses this statement to indicate the conviction of the Southern people. Even if the Southern people falsely used the name and lifestyle of Christ, they would still be tried for the sins they had committed on judgment day. The grandmother cannot save herself from the wrath of the Misfit.
Good Country People
Secondly, there are instances of irony in “Good Country People.” In this short story, Flannery uses irony in the characters’ names and personalities. Joy Hopewell is one of the characters, and as the name suggests, joy stands for happiness in a person. However, Joy Hopewell is not a happy person. She is not happy as she has a weak heart. Her weak heart pushes her to stay with the good country people in the red hills only because of her health condition. If it was not for her condition, Joy would be in the university teaching students that matched and understood her sentiments (398). It was evident that good people were not atheists like Joy and therefore did not agree on the issues concerning Christianity. The naïve nature of this situation is ironic since Joy Hopewell is a PhD holder in Philosophy. Joy should appreciate the help she receives; however, this is not the case. Therefore, it is ironic that Joy is a PhD holder, but her sentiments communicate otherwise. Also, the artificial leg ironically shows the doubt that Joy has lost the happiness in her life. Hulga’s mother says that when Hulga lost the leg, it took away Joy’s chances of enjoying life.
When Joy is living with the good country people, Joy meets Manley. Manley sells bibles that are contrary to his actions. Hulga is learned and therefore believes in her understanding and knowledge of the world since she was educated. However, Hulga later learns that it is the opposite since she is played at her own game. Joy tries to change Manley’s thoughts on Christianity. Hulga is an atheist and does not believe in God. After Manley and Hulga meet, Hulga tries to seduce Manley and use it to teach Manley about atheism. Hulga thought of Manley as an innocent person. After speaking about God, Manley and Hulga kiss. After the kiss, Hulga concludes that she has succeeded in her plan to change Manley’s stand on Christianity.
Manley convinces Hulga to remove the leg. “This boy, with an instinct that came from beyond wisdom, had touched the truth about her” (418). Ironically, Hulga believed she would change Manley’s thoughts, but in this case, Manley had succeeded in convincing Hulga to remove the leg. Hulga’s happiness in looking at young men as stupid caused her to lose her wooden leg. “She looked at nice young men as if she could smell their stupidity.” (399). When Manley removes Hulga’s leg, Hulga feels she has for the first time come “face to face with real innocence.” However, there is a turn of events since Manley refuses to give Hulga back her leg. It is evident that Manley also had his mission. Therefore, it is ironic that Manley succeeded despite Hulga’s superiority in education. Hulga depends on Manley after Manley removes the wooden leg.
When Hulga learns that Manley’s bible had whiskey and cards, there is dramatic irony. After Manley removes Hulga’s leg, he removes one of the bibles from the valise. When Manley and Hulga start climbing the ladder, Hulga tells Manley that they will not need the bible. Manley, however, replies, “You can never tell” (415). This is evident after Manley removes Hulga’s wooden leg and removes a bible that contains whiskey, cards and a blue box that had prints (419). Manley lays the contents before Hulga. This is ironic since Manley wanted Hulga to learn that he would not be manipulated anyway. Manley offered Hulga the whiskey. Hulga is shocked. The bible is usually used to educate about the word of God. However, the irony in this situation is that the bible is used to show the evil that is hidden among the “good country people.” Hulga asks, “aren’t you just good country people?” (419). Manley informs Hulga that although he sells the bible, he is not stupid to believe it. It is ironic that Manley later proves to be an atheist.
Therefore, Flannery O’Connor uses irony throughout the story “Good Country People.” Hulga’s personality, confidence, and education are used to indicate the use of irony. Also, Manley’s occupation is used to findicate the evilness in the community. Also, the title is ironic since it leads the story’s readers to question the goodness of the Good Country People, such as Manley.
The Life You Save May Be Your Own
Lastly, the story The Life You Save May Be Your Own by Flannery O’Connor also uses dramatic, verbal, and situational irony. The story is set on a small farm that shows how the community is isolated from the other parts of society. The story’s characters include Mr Shiftlet, who has one arm, Young Lucynell, who is deaf and mentally ill, and Old Lucynell, who is large and is toothless. The ironic example is in the title “The Life You Save May Be Your Own “since many lives are destroyed throughout the story instead of being saved, unlike the title. For example, Mrs Cater marries off her daughter, hoping to have a better and happy life. However, Mrs Cater is left to take care of herself without the help of her daughter. “I ain’t ever been parted with her for two days before” (227). This is ironic since immediately Lucynell goes with Mr Shiftlet, old Lucynell feels sad. Also, Mr Shiftlet’s life is damaged since there is no chance for true happiness after marrying Lucynell.
Mrs Cater marries off her daughter to Mr Shiftlet. However, it is ironic that although marriage is supposed to make people happy, Mr Shiftlet is not happy. When Mr Shiftlet and Lucynell drive to town on Saturday, it is not long as they immediately get married in the office of the Ordinary while Mrs Cater is witnessing (226). The event is to show happiness; however, Mr Shiftlet indicates his bitterness immediately he gets married and has expressions as someone had just insulted him. Therefore, it is ironic that Mr Shiftlet marries Lucynell but is not happy after the wedding (226).
It is also ironic that Mrs Cater believes in Mr Shiftlet’s ability to make Lucynell happy since Mr Shiftlet abandons Lucynell in a diner, leaving Lucynell alone to take care of herself. Although Mr Shiftlet has an obsession with morality globally, it is ironic that Mr Shiftlet leaves Lucynell in the diner. Verbal irony is seen when Mr Shiftlet comments that the Lord should be the world’s sin due to the wickedness experienced (230). This statement shows Mr Shiftlet’s cry about the rottenness in the community. This is ironic since Mr Shiftlet is one of the evil people in the small town. It is also dramatic that the counter boy believes that Lucynell is an “angel of Gawd.” However, this is ironic because Lucynell later becomes a problem after waking up since she requires someone to care for her after Mr Shiftlet leaves Lucynell at the diner.
Work Cited
O’Connor, Flannery. The complete stories. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1971.
