Student Question
Why do people idealize the past in "A Good Man is Hard to Find"?
Quick answer:
People are willing to view the past as perfect for many reasons, like if they're unhappy in the present or critical of contemporary society. For example, consider how the Grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” is critical of how children act in the present time period. She says that children were more respectful and always did right in the past. She over-simplifies and over-romanticizes her past to justify her critique of the present to herself and others.
The answer to this may vary from person to person. However, it is undeniable that it is common for people to tend to romanticize the past. There are many possible reasons for this, but Flannery O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” suggests that people are willing to view the past as perfect because they don’t understand or agree with what’s happening in the present, they can’t cope with what is happening in the present, or they want to justify critiques of the present.
For example, consider how the Grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” seems to long for the past and frequently references it as a better time. “In my time,” she says, “children were more respectful of their native states and their parents … People did right then.” Throughout the story, the Grandmother expresses a strong distaste for how people act in the present...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
time, and in particular how children and parents interact with each other. The Grandmother’s tone here is condescending and judgmental. It is as if she is using the fact that the past was perfect to defend her critique of the present. Of course, there was no time in history when children were absolutely perfect, as humans are flawed and complicated beings, not machines. But by pretending to themselves and others that the past was perfect, people are able to find fault with the current time and defend their views.
People also tend to view the past as perfect if they are personally unhappy in the present. With each day, our memories of the past fade a bit more, and we tend to most clearly remember moments when we felt strong emotions. For example, consider a child who grew up with loving parents but still fought occasionally with their family members. As an adult, they may not remember many moments in which they fought with their parents; instead, they will just remember that their childhood was overwhelmingly good and full of love. If they do not feel that same type of love in the present and do not feel hopeful they will have it in the future, it is likely that they will over-romanticize the love they felt in his past and begin to unrealistically view the past as perfect. The Grandmother in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” also displays this type of behavior. Consider how much she seems to love “The Tennessee Waltz,” despite its sad lyrics. Here, the Grandmother overlooks the negative reality of the song because she is caught up in how much she preferred the past to her present.