Wwhheerree iiss tthhee AAllmmaa

What would become of the world without what is wrong? Do people become good from being around decent people, or do painful circumstances make them whatever they are to be. OConnors thoughts about misguided souls, A Good Man Is Hard to Find shows the lack of a complete soul on the part of the main characters. On a trip to Florida, a woman takes the wrong rode to a plantation. On a run from the law, a criminal happens to find a wrecked car in which to make his ultimate escape. A tattered old woman only needs to be shot to be true to herself. A supposedly evil man only needs to find someone he can trust to see the pointlessness of the things people do.
The controversial main character of this story would have to be the grandmother. She is a relatively weak character, never really allowing herself to release her worries that the world will fall apart without her vast wisdom. This is shown in one way by her need to judge the mothers parenting techniques. The grandmother says, in my time, children were more respectful, (18) making it appear that she believes she knows a better way to do things. This idea she has only weakens her character. She cant really be a good person while she is worrying how other people are leading there lives. At the end of the story, just before he shoots her, she actually becomes as close to whole as anyone good imagine. When she begins pleading for her life, when she gives up hope: Maybe he didnt raise the dead (137). At that point she finds in the misfit what she had needed all along, someone to stand in front of her and put her right back down. The misfit needs her just as much as she needs him.
This criminal, a pest of society, will only fail in all his efforts. He is doomed to be unhappy. In the beginning he at least has the pleasure he receives from his crimes, but in the end, its no real pleasure in life (143). With those shots; he lost his happiness, but gained something much more important, his soul. He is still stained by his crimes, but he no longer feels good about what he has done. It may be a leap, but if he can realize what he has done isnt right, maybe he might be able to regret. But then comes another great philosophical question, is there a sin that is so great that it could never be forgiven. But he would be startled by such a great change: The Misfit sprang back as if a snake had bitten him(137). It was almost as if he wanted to change but didnt know how. Or the idea how he killed his father, he would feel compelled to end the life of this woman that claimed to be his mother. To be connected, to be comforted, these things scared him. He couldnt handle such a quick change. Only to be left with some hope of further growth.
The other characters in this story change when the need arises. Bailey, always annoyed with his mothers actions, still cries back to her before he leaves to die: Ill be back in a minute, Mamma, wait on me (97). In all the story, this is the only time Bailey really forgives his mother. He knew that the wreck was basically her fault. But when he went to die, his only thoughts were for his mother. The childrens mother, thanks the misfit for his kindness. Yes, thank you, (126) simple words making the mother only that much more decent. She left with that much dignity. She does not have very much characterization at any point in the story, but at this one point she becomes solemn. The one character that really changes little in the events is June Star. Even as she is pulled away she complains: I dont want to hold hands with him (127). Even John Weasly holds his fathers hand quietly as they go to meet the eternal.
This is a story about some people being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But in this awful situation, they find out who they are, or could be anyway. Had these people lives out their lives, it may have been an even worse fate. At least this way they became something better than what they were.