A Comparison and Evaluation of "A Good Man is Hard to Find" (O'Connor) vs. "The Death of Tommy Grimes" (Meaddough), focusing on characterization, atmosphere and the grotesque.
"The Death of Tommy Grimes" is a more successful and compelling piece of literature than "A Good Man is Hard to Find". Both stories focus on traditionalism, human nature in times of death and obligation. However, "The Death of Tommy Grimes" is far more successful due to its efficient use of characterization, atmosphere and the grotesque. "The Death of Tommy Grimes" is clearly the superior piece of art.
Both "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "The Death of Tommy Grimes" focus intently on tradition's effects on society through the use of characterization, but "The Death of Tommy Grimes" is far more successful in delivering its message. "A Good Man is Hard to Find" uses the younger generations as well as the older generations of the family (from grandparents to children) to portray a decline in moral stability and Christian beliefs; an example of how tradition, meant to maintain these beliefs and morals, can be easily corrupted. "The Death of Tommy Grimes" communicates this same message through the strictly traditionalist character of the father, whose racism is shown to be extremely destructive to our society. Because of his unquestioning belief in racist traditions, he has influenced his own son to adhere to the racist tendencies prevalent in the South during their time. "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is extremely subtle in its anti-traditionalist message, its most effective example being a subtle allusion to a lurking evil in the highly traditional character of the grandmother, showing the fact that personal flaws are often disguised by a strong belief in the values of tradition. Her misuse of her Christian tradition is brought to attention through the words of the Misfit: "'She would have been a good woman,' the Misfit said, 'if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.'(O'Connor 11)" "The Death of Tommy Grimes" is much more straightforward in its anti-traditionalist message, emphasizing its stance through the remarkably blunt words of the
Both "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "The Death of Tommy Grimes" focus intently on tradition's effects on society through the use of characterization, but "The Death of Tommy Grimes" is far more successful in delivering its message. "A Good Man is Hard to Find" uses the younger generations as well as the older generations of the family (from grandparents to children) to portray a decline in moral stability and Christian beliefs; an example of how tradition, meant to maintain these beliefs and morals, can be easily corrupted. "The Death of Tommy Grimes" communicates this same message through the strictly traditionalist character of the father, whose racism is shown to be extremely destructive to our society. Because of his unquestioning belief in racist traditions, he has influenced his own son to adhere to the racist tendencies prevalent in the South during their time. "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is extremely subtle in its anti-traditionalist message, its most effective example being a subtle allusion to a lurking evil in the highly traditional character of the grandmother, showing the fact that personal flaws are often disguised by a strong belief in the values of tradition. Her misuse of her Christian tradition is brought to attention through the words of the Misfit: "'She would have been a good woman,' the Misfit said, 'if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.'(O'Connor 11)" "The Death of Tommy Grimes" is much more straightforward in its anti-traditionalist message, emphasizing its stance through the remarkably blunt words of the