"A Good Man is Hard to Find" is the story of a family whose lives are taken in a foreshadowed accident that could have easily been avoided. Had the family listened to the warnings of their crazy grandmother, devastation would not have ended their lives all at once. The fatal truth that there are no good men left in the world is the true reason the family 's vacation ended their lives forever. The story goes on to contradict itself when God's grace teaches a valuable lesson to the two main characters, both undeserving of God's pure teachings. Both characters learn by the grace of God that they are extremely different, but at the same time, much alike in many different ways. Significance is found in the story through the lesson that humans overall cannot determine good from evil or right from wrong. Human beings cannot correctly judge one another. Judgment is inevitably left up to God. The faltered definition of a "good man", misinterpretation of a "lady", and examples of unlikely recipients of God's grace are three major themes that tie the story together to teach a valuable lesson to the reader. .
What does it take to be considered a good man? The unnamed old lady fought for an answer to this question throughout the duration of the story and still never came to a just, correct conclusion. Her idea of a good man was simply not thought out long and hard enough, and was not just in the eyes of God. After hearing Red Sam's regret of allowing two customers to fill up their tanks on credit, the old lady claimed it was "Because you're a good man!" In response, Red Sam said, "Yes'm, I suppose so," in an unsure voice, expressing to the reader that even he does not agree that he is truly a good man. Stating that Red Sam is a good man reveals that the old lady defines a "good man" as one who is gullible, easy to be manipulated, and refuses to say no and stand up for .