Thursday, April 21, 2016
what it means to be a "good" person
The different definitions of a "good" person are given by many characters throughout the short story. First the grandma thinks that to be a "good" person you must be respectful of each other and not speak rudely to others. Next in the play a different definition of "good" comes from Red Sammy, the owner of a barbecue stand that the family stops by on their trip. He thinks that a "good" person is someone that you can trust. He values honesty. Next, we get the Misfit's definition of being a "good" person. Once again, the definition we receive is based on what the character speaking values. The Misfit does not value much. His idea of a good person is someone who inflicts suffering on others for their own happiness. He values doing whatever he wants. To me, each person has their own definition of what being a "good" person means, and this is all based on our own personal values. If you have none other than to bring your own self happiness, then you will act recklessly in order to fulfill that. If you value honesty, then to you, a "good" person is an honest person. To me, my values reconcile most with the grandmother's and Red Sammy's definition of "good" people. I value honesty, respectfulness, and being kind to one another. The final comment made by the Misfit saying that the grandmother would have been a good woman if someone would have been there to shoot her every minute of her life, is confusing to me. I tried to put a meaning behind it, and I would be able to look up what other people have thought about it and then come to some sort of realization of what he meant, but I don't want to do that. I have not yet figured out what he means by this... But I will continue to try to figure it out.
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Certainly, there are different ways to interpret that line, and you could find many papers written about it. To me, the statement calls into question what value humans place on things that ultimately do not matter in the end. As you note, the grandmother is concerned about social rules--being polite, dressing properly, etc. These things are exterior concerns rather than internal concerns. It's interesting that right before she is shot, she really sees the Misfit, notes that he is about to cry, and reaches out to comfort him. She's moved past the external and seen what's inside. If she had a gun to her head every minute of her life, perhaps, she would have valued her children and grandchildren as flawed, but beautiful, human beings instead of focusing on their exterior behaviors.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, there are different ways to interpret that line, and you could find many papers written about it. To me, the statement calls into question what value humans place on things that ultimately do not matter in the end. As you note, the grandmother is concerned about social rules--being polite, dressing properly, etc. These things are exterior concerns rather than internal concerns. It's interesting that right before she is shot, she really sees the Misfit, notes that he is about to cry, and reaches out to comfort him. She's moved past the external and seen what's inside. If she had a gun to her head every minute of her life, perhaps, she would have valued her children and grandchildren as flawed, but beautiful, human beings instead of focusing on their exterior behaviors.
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