Misfit example essay topic

When reading the story "A Good Man is Hard to Find", by Flannery O'Connor we are introduced to a character known as the Misfit. All it takes is some interaction between the family and the Misfit and the question arises of whether the Misfit is really a true psychopath or not. A psychopath is "a person with an antisocial personality disorder, manifested in aggressive, perverted, criminal, or amoral behaviour without empathy or remorse". (your dictionary. com) As soon as the grandmother realizes the identity of the Misfit "but it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn't of reckernized me". , (p. 127) there is a notion that the Misfit may be a psychopath and that he may harm the family. Although the family does get harmed, the reader must realize that the Misfit only has the kill or be killed mentality. He is only doing what he has to, in order to survive. He is definitely not a psychopath.

To assume the Misfit is a psychopath is unjust. He has killed people, but, by no means does that make him a psychopath. That would make anyone who has ever killed someone a psychopath. His killings can be compared to a circumstance of someone at war killing someone. They both are just doing what they have to do in order to survive.

He doesn't want to kill them, but he has no choice. He wishes that he wouldn't have been recognized so he wouldn't have to kill them: "but it would have been better... if you hadn't of reckernized me". (p. 127) The Misfit does not suffer from any form of antisocial behaviour. He is with a group of people and has no problem with confronting the family or interacting with his accomplice. Even when Bailey says something to the Grandmother and she begins to cry the Misfit shows concern: "Lady, ... don't you get upset. Sometimes a man says things that he don't mean. I don't reckon he meant to talk to you that away". (p. 127) One would think that an anti-social person would be more selfish or self-centred and not care about other peoples feelings or what they thought.

In no way does the Misfit show aggressive behaviour. He seems to avoid having to do any of the killings. While they are talking about fixing the car the Misfit says, "Well, first you and Bobby Lee get him and that little boy to step over yonder with you, ... The boys want to ast you something, ... Would you mind stepping back in them woods there with them?" (p. 128) If he was aggressive he would have probably enjoyed the killings, instead the Misfit remains and talks with the grandmother while everyone else does the killing for him: There was a pistol shot from the woods, followed closely by another. Then silence.

The old lady's head jerked around. She could hear the wind move through the tree tops like a long satisfied in suck of breath. "Bailey Boy! , she said (p. 129) The Misfit knows that he is not a good man. Even after the grandmother comments "I just know you " re a good man, ... You " re not a bit common!" , the Misfit replies in his defence: "Nome, I ain't a good man".

This shows his understanding from wrong and right. He is upset of what is going on. Even at the end of the story when the grandmother ends up being shot by the Misfit we see he does not enjoy it: "Shut up, Bobby Lee", The Misfit said. "It's no real pleasure in life". (p. 133) therefore we see that he is not a psychopath in any way, he is just doing what he has to in order to survive.