Formalism In A Good Man Is Hard To Find

Fate and Humanity: Formalism and “A Good Man is Hard to Find” Formalism has been a theory of literary thought for many years. One of the first predominant theories of analyzing literature, formalism is old-fashioned in comparison to the numerous other theories that have emerged in the years since, such as structuralism and deconstruction. Comparatively, formalism is quite surface level, as it analyzes specific parts of the stories rather than other, more invasive theories. Because of this, the meaning of the text can be inferred from the text, yet it lacks the complexity of many other theories of analysis. However, this type of analysis can be seen as beneficial in various cases, like deepening the meaning of a work while staying within the parameters of the work.
This idea can be useful in the analyzing of texts. Because the analysis is simple, broad, and applicable to all works, it is much easier to grasp and understand while still adding new facets to previously read works. Take for example the story “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” This story of a grandmother who leads her family to death can be understood more fully through a formalist reading of the work. To do this, a central focus must be established. For the short story, though, this is not difficult to spot. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor, the uses of foreshadowing, figurative language, …show more content…
Through this, it can be seen that the story gains a deeper and more meaningful message. The story is no longer just a tale of homicide and grief, but it is also a lesson in the power of fate in the lives of everyone. O’Connor’s story exemplifies this idea, and with a central focus, it becomes easier to