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A Good Man Is Hard To Find Foreshadowing Analysis

Decent Essays

Filled with imagery and foreshadowing, Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” uses in-depth, symbolic diction to tell the carefully layered story. Although this work utilizes many colors to enhance ideas, the most common and powerful colors were red and black. There were many instances within the story when red and black foreshadowed the family’s impending death. Although there may be many forms of unintended or intended symbolism within the story, these two colors were instrumental in the formulation of its message. Drawing from the religious background of O’Connor, the scene where Red Sam wipes his red face with a gray handkerchief is extremely important. This particular scene could be an allusion to when St. Veronica gave Jesus a cloth to wipe his face as he struggled under the weight of the cross. Red Sam states that he doesn’t know who to trust these days; this …show more content…

After the car accident, a “big black battered hearse-like automobile” was making its way towards the family. This was incredibly strong foreshadowing and color symbolism. Used for carrying coffins to funerals, the implementation of a hearse like car coming down the hill was a direct allusion towards the family’s approaching death. The author also added the color black to the description to enhance the imagery and message. Comparatively, one of the men was wearing black trousers and a red sweatshirt. This man was one of the main executioners. The author used these dark colors to enhance the evil aura of the killer. Towards the end of the story, the grandmother asks the Misfit if he ever prays and she watches his black hat wiggle, as he says no. This is a subtle, yet strong reference toward the idiomatic expression of putting on a black hat. The wiggling of the black hate shows his villainy and willingness to act villainously. Perhaps if he had said yes, he would’ve shook his gray

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