Literary Devices

          One literary device that O'Connor uses effectively is foreshadowing.

          In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” O’Connor does an exceptional job at using foreshadowing to suggest that something bad is going to happen to the family. One example is “In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady” (O’Connor 357). Another example is “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he didn’t attack this place right here” (O’Connor 359). The name of the town they pass through and the description of the Misfit’s car are also examples of foreshadowing (O’Connor 359, 361).

The reader is given hints that the family is going to die because of the author’s foreshadowing. First, the narrator says that “In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady” (O’Connor 357). This is a strange statement to make, and it is a hint of what is to come. The conversation between the grandmother and Red Sammy’s wife is also foreshadowing. When asked if she had heard that the Misfit escaped, Red Sammy’s wife said “I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he didn’t attack this place right here” (O’Connor 359). This makes the reader get the feeling that the Misfit could be near. Another example of foreshadowing is the name of the town that they pass through. It is called “Toomsboro” (O’Connor 359). The town has “tomb” as part of its name; this is another indicator that death is approaching. Finally, the description of the Misfit’s car is a use of foreshadowing. “It was a big black battered hearse-like automobile” (O’Connor 361). By comparing the car to a hearse, it gives the reader an inkling that death is near.

Another literary device that O'Connor uses effectively is irony. 

One example of situational irony is in “Good Country People.” After Manley and Hulga are in the barn loft for a while, Manley opens his Bible. To the readers’ surprise, “it was hollow and contained a pocket flask of whiskey, a pack of cards, and a small blue box with printing on it” (O’Connor 378). Furthermore, Manley tells Hulga, “I hope you don’t think…that I believe in that crap! I may sell Bibles but I know which end is up and I wasn’t born yesterday and I know where I’m going!” (O’Connor 380).

                This is a great example of situational irony because what is expected to happen differs from what actually happens. The reader thinks that Manley is a Christian man who truly loves Hulga. For example, Mrs. Hopewell told Mrs. Freeman and Hulga that “…he was so sincere and genuine I couldn’t be rude to him. He was just good country people, you know…-just the salt of the earth” (O’Connor 374). When Manley rejects Christianity, steals Hulga’s leg, and leaves her in the barn, it is very surprising. This is ironic because the reader thinks that Manley can be trusted, but he ends up being untrustworthy.


Here is a video with the short story reading of "Good Country People."