Abstract: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’ Connor is a representative work of the south literature of America in the Twentieth Century. Like other works of Connor, this story is related to violence and death as well as religion. Indifference, as the theme of the story, is reflected from the writing style, the relations among the characters as well as the title of the story. In the body part of the thesis, the research is conducted from the analysis of the indifferent attitude between grandma and other family members, between the kids’ mother, Red Sammy’s wife, the criminal Misfit and other people. This thesis points out that “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” reflects the theme of indifference on all layers which results disharmony in family and society. People need to communicate and care about each other so as so set up the harmonious family and social relation, and this should be the social significance of this story.　　　　

Key words: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”; indifference; theme 

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction.1

  1.1 Introduction to Flannery O’Connor and “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”.1

  1.2 Literature Review.2

2 The Theme of Indifference in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”.3

  2.1 Indifference Shown from the Writing Style3

  2.2 Indifference Shown from Grandma..4

    2.2.1 Grandma’s Indifference Towards Others5

    2.2.2 Others’ Indifference Towards Grandma.6

  2.3 Indifference Shown from Two Wives and the Misfit .6

    2.3.1 Indifference Shown from The Kids’ Mother and Red Sammy’s Wife7

    2.3.2 Indifference Shown From the Misfit.8

  2.4 Indifference Shown from the Title.9

3  Conclusion .10

Bibliography..11

Acknowledgements12