Defining Goodness: An Exploration of Morality in Flannery O’Connor’s A Good Man Is Hard to Find

Daniel Antwi Owusu

Abstract- In A Good Man Is Hard to Find, Flannery O’Connor grapples with the concept of goodness, questioning whether it is determined by social norms, religious grace, or self-awareness. The characters in the story, particularly the Grandmother and the Misfit, embody contradictions that challenge conventional ideas of morality. Through a series of darkly ironic events, O’Connor suggests that true goodness may be rooted in self-awareness, humility, and grace, rather than superficial respectability. This paper examines these qualities and their significance, highlighting O’Connor’s use of Southern Gothic elements to convey the often complex and unexpected nature of redemption and moral understanding. This paper employs ethical and moral literary criticism to analyze the tension between outward virtue and internal transformation, offering a nuanced reading of goodness in O’Connor’s world.