How does O'Connor portray the family in the story? What were some of the characteristics of the grandmother? Most readers dislike her. Why? Did you dislike her?.
Bailey loves his mother, although the fact that she is always demanding something gets under his skin. Regardless, since he loves her he listens to her request and drives her to the old house she is remembering. John Wesley and June Star are both extremely intolerable. June Star is blunt and speaks her mind about everyone and everything around her. John Wesley is loud and immature. All he cares about is visiting the old house that his grandmother is describing. .
The grandmother is also an annoying woman. She is very judgmental and believes that she is better than everyone else. For example, the grandmother believes and "said that in her opinion Europe was entirely to blame for the way things were now " (370). In addition, she often passes judgment on Bailey's wife and tries to punish John for not having respect towards his home state of Georgia. The grandmother turns to John and says, "In my time children were more respectful of their native states and their parents and everything else"" (368). She also fixates on being very "lady-like"." Everything about her, from her clothes and characteristics, must be very classy. I find the grandmother very self-centered and two-faced. Even when the Misfit murderers the whole family, instead of begging for the life of her children and grandchildren, she's pleading for her own life. The grandmother looks at the Misfit and cries, "I know you wouldn't shoot a lady!"" (376). The grandmother believes that the Misfit should spare her because she's such a "lady ".
2. Characterize The Misfit. What makes him so? Can he be written off as simply insane, or do you think he is meant to symbolize something more significant about our world?.
The Misfit is violent, lives by his own moral code, and feels no guilt.