Summary: Similar Literary Elements and Examples Of Symbolism Through The Stories

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In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” by Flannery O’Connor, and “Popular Mechanics,” by Raymond Carver, both stories contain similar literary elements. Although the stories differ in meaning, the elements within them allow for comparisons. Inspecting how the author uses these elements provides clarity to the overall story. Through examination of O’Connor’s and Carver’s use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony to advance each story, similarities arise.

Collectively, each author incorporates foreshadowing to advance the narrative. In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” O’Connor makes it evident that the family will encounter death due to The Misfit.

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The grandmother thinks, “In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once she was a lady” . The grandmother’s consistent remarks, each including references to death, foreshadows that a fatal encounter with The Misfit is approaching. Her statements, in conjunction with her significant role in determining where the family is going, confirms their fate.

In “Popular Mechanics,” the darkness in the household foreshadows the couple’s bitter argument. Carver writes, “Cars slushed by on the street outside, where it was getting dark. But it was getting dark on the inside too” . The quote’s strategic placement in the first paragraph sets the readers’ expectations for the story. Its description constructs the story’s dark atmosphere, foreshadowing the anger which emerges within the couple and their intense exchange. Through the quotes, it becomes apparent how O’Connor and Carver use foreshadowing to support each plot with relevant information vital to the story’s outcome.

Another utilization the authors adopt to advance each story is symbolism. In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” the symbolism signifies the family’s looming fate. The story mentions, “It was a big black battered hearse-like automobile”. Describing the car as “black” and “hearse-like” symbolizes death approaching. This symbolism insinuates that the vehicle’s occupants are not there to assist, making their intentions clear. Other instances of symbolism, such as the grandmother’s recollection of “Toombsboro” , continually relays information regarding the family’s impending death. In “Popular Mechanics,” symbolism introduces the conflict within the story. In the first sentence, Carver notes, “Early that day the weather turned and the snow was melting into dirty water”. To convey the proceeding animosity, “dirty water” symbolizes the couples’ relationship souring. Happiness is fleeting, and the purity that once existed between the couple has become tainted. Through these examples, they express how O’Connor and Carver use symbolism to facilitate the contextual meanings of each story.

An additional element advancing each story is the author’s use of irony. O’Connor’s frequent references to The Misfit and the family’s intentions to avoid him represent the story’s irony. In the narrative, the mother says, “I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that aloose in it” . This statement sets the precedent for the story: avoid The Misfit; however, their eventual confrontation with him reveals they are heading towards him the entire trip. Unknowingly, the grandmother’s consequential decisions lead the family to The Misfit, assuring their demise. In “Popular Mechanics,” the couple’s argument over the child highlights its irony. Through their mindless anger, the couple turns their child into a materialistic possession to quarrel over. In an act of spite, the couple intends to keep the child away from their spouse by any means necessary. Carver reveals, “In this manner, the issue was decided”. Each parent is adamant to keep the child, and through indignation, they lose control and manage to seemingly kill their child; thus, resolving the conflict. These instances display how both stories employ irony to advance the narratives.

Examining each story’s literary elements reveals how the authors’ utilizations impact the story’s meanings. Notably, the use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony contribute immensely to each storyline. Their inclusions expand the stories by providing explanations that contribute to the development of the plots. O’Connor’s and Carver’s compositions use these techniques in a similar manner, offering the reader a deeper insight and aiding the progression of each story.