comes as quite a shock. But, upon a second read, signs of an ominous end permeate the

work. Hints of the family’s tragic finale exist hroughout the plot until the time of the first

murder. The story contains pervasive images of death and to foreshadow the ultimate

demise of the nameless family at the hands of the malicious Misfit and his henchmen.

Before the story begins, O’Connor provides the reader with an epigraph. It quotes, “The

Dragon is by the side of the road, watching those who pass. Beware lest he devour you.

We go to the father of souls, but it is necessary to pass by the dragon.” (St. Cyril of

Jerusalem). These few sentences prpvide the reader with an overview of the story’s events.

This quote about the “dragon” relates to the story in that the anonymous ordinary family

sets out on a road trip to Florida, and the passengers are consequently “devoured” by

the Misfit and his accomplices. (Orvell 130). The Misfit exemplifies the dragon with his

redneck appearance and scholarly spectacles. He finds the family on the side of

the road, just as the quote states, “The dragon is by the side

however, as she adds, “Here this fellow calls himself the Misfit is a loose from the Federal

The “hearse” foreshadows how the family will be leaving the town, and carries the family’s

end. While passing through the town, the grandmother remembers a house from her

over that if he would pray, Jesus would help him. She keeps repeating herself telling the

lending credit to two men in an old but decent car. These two symbolic occurrences serve

journey. Immediately the grandmother, who does not wish to travel to Florida, issues her

Some topics in this essay:
Pitty Sing, Hard Find”, June Star, Red Sammy’s, Cyril Jerusalem, Misfit Bailey’s, Misfit Drake, Federal Pen, According Orvell, Red Sammy, hard find”, “a hard find”, hints family’s, “a hard, june star, pitty sing, conversation grandmother, grandmother misfit, family meet, story begins, foreshadows family, conversation grandmother misfit,