John Wesley and June Star's parents just sit there as the two children poke fun at there grandmother, as well as other passers by (328-329). The children do however show esteem toward their grandmother in just intently listening to her stories. Besides a lack of open respect for their grandmother, the children care little about other people or their property. Upon stopping at the roadside eating establishment the children immediately, without permission, ran for the owner's pet monkey (330). Once inside June Star did not even hesitate when she insulted the store owner's wife (330). This illustrates a lack moral standing from the parents perspective. As the family sits there and eats, the store owner, Red Sam, and the grandmother discuss the topic of being able to trust people. Out of this conversation the two bring up the escaped convict, known as The Misfit, briefly mentioned at the start of the trip.
Knowing what is right and doing what is right is a major premise in Flannery O"Connor's "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." This is expressed through the character of The Misfit. The Misfit has been sent to jail and escapes the custody of man. He is going to fix the families car and get them on their way until his identity is recognized (334). He knows what morals are and that they do exist. There is guilt from just not having his shirt on (335). The Misfit knows that God exists and that prayer could help him, but he wants no help (336). One journalist concurs to this by stating, "He acknowledges the miraculous efficacy of prayer while disavowing any desire for it" (Sloan 118). The grandmother believes that this man is generally a good man based on her system of beliefs. According to one critic, "A southern gentleman is as good as his word, because his word is as good as his blood- (Owens 101). When the Misfit tells her that he is not a good man but not the worst, this gives her more hope (335).
