Ben Ziccardi
7-19-11
Engl123 Essay
Understanding The Misfit Enhances Experience
Among the many mental illnesses antisocial personality disorder presents a
unique challenge to identify and understand. Commonly referred to as psychopathy, it is
defined as, “a mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of
manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others. This behavior is often criminal,”
(Vorvick and Zieve). In the short story by Flannery O’Connor, A Good Man is Hard to
Find, the character of the Misfit clearly shows signs of suffering from antisocial
personality disorder. Understanding the Misfit as a mentally ill man, it is possible to pity
him and his predicament, enhancing the experience of the reader. The tragic demise of
the family remains fully effective and the moral essence of the story, directly stated in the
title, is undiminished.
Individuals with antisocial personality disorder will often not accept their own
responsibility. This irresponsible nature can manifest itself in a number of ways, but
failure to maintain a steady job is frequently observed in individuals with the disorder. In
the story, the Misfit reveals that his past is riddled with many different jobs. His
description of his employment history and life experience is rather fantastic, leading the
reader to question the truth of his statement, but the sinister intent remains.
The Misfit demonstrates another characteristic symptom of the disorder, a failure
to conform to social norms, through a number of statements. He explicitly gives the
grandmother his rationale for doing harm to others, reasoning about the miracle of Jesus
resurrection, “…if He didn’t, then it’s nothing for you to do but enjoy the few moments
you got left the best way you can—by killing somebody or burning down his house or
doing some other meanness to him. No pleasure but meanness,” (204-205). This
statement, among others, leaves no doubt that the Misfit does not respect the rights of
others.
The Misfit claims that he doesn’t think he deserves what punishment he received
when he says, “‘I can't make what all I done wrong fit what all I gone through in
punishment,’” (204). This statement highlights the ability of individuals with antisocial
personality disorder to rationalize their actions to avoid feelings of guilt. Later in the
story, “She reached out and touched him on the shoulder. The Misfit sprang back as if a
snake had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest. Then he put his gun
down on the ground and took off his glasses and began to clean them,” (205). This
portion of the story emphasizes his ability to feel no remorse, while simultaneously
illustrating his impulsive tendencies, also characteristic of individuals with the disorder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4epc4A7kS2Q&feature=related (view from 1:201:35)
The Misfit displays yet another symptom used to diagnose the disorder in the
story by using an alias and frequently being deceitful using a superficial charm. He states
outright that he goes by the Misfit, but further statements reinforce the understanding of
his deceit. In order to distract the grandmother while his accomplices execute the family,
the Misfit tactfully and casually excuses their appearance and seems to be speaking
reassuringly when he says, “We borrowed these from some folks we met,” (202). Further
evidence of this symptom in the Misfit is developed in the course of their conversation as
he tailors his responses to be familiar, ensuring she remained calm.
Two additional symptoms that are employed in the diagnosis of antisocial
personality disorder are evident in the behavior of the Misfit. He is aggressive without
provocation on a few occasions, such as his response to the statement of support made by
his accomplice saying, “‘Shut up, Bobby Lee,’ The Misfit said. ‘It’s no real pleasure in
life,’” (205). The final symptom used as a diagnostic criterion for the disorder is a lack
of regard for the safety of self or others. A fine example of this behavior is given when
the Misfit does not inquire about the condition of the family following their accident, but
instead is solely concerned with eliminating them to get their belongings.
To complete this understanding of the Misfit as an individual suffering from an
illness, the reader must have knowledge of its causes. Antisocial personality disorder
results from a combination of genetic and environmental influences and typically
develops as early as ages 5-6, when children begin to show signs of what is called
conduct disorder by misbehaving in the face of punishment.
The story does not go into great detail about the Misfit’s childhood, but while
conversing with the grandmother he sheds some light on how he developed and his
background. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4epc4A7kS2Q&feature=related (view
from 1:44-2:20). He claims to have been declared different from his siblings at a young
age by his father. This pressure to be different, added to the neglect he likely experienced
as a child competing for attention among many siblings, could easily be understood as the
environmental influences leading him to develop the disorder. His statement about his
father, “‘He never got in trouble with the Authorities though. Just had a knack of
handling them,’” (202) suggests that his father may have also suffered from the disorder.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4epc4A7kS2Q&feature=related (view from 3:504:07) This provides the reader with an understanding that he may have been taught to
behave antisocially, but did not inherit some of the charm necessary to avoid trouble with
authorities, leading to his initial incarceration.
Given this perspective of the Misfit as an ill individual behaving in a criminal
manner without the ability to fully comprehend the social impact, the reader is invited to
have sympathy to his situation. His actions are wholly immoral, yet he did not choose
that developmental outcome, so he is a victim in his own right. The sympathy evoked in
the reader comes in the midst of feelings of disgust and repulsion at the atrocity of the
murders. In this way, a holistic appreciation for antisocial personality disorder allows the
reader to be immersed in the emotional drama more fully than those without this
knowledge.
Works Cited
O'Connor, Flannery. "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." The Hudson Book of Fiction 30
Stories Worth Reading. Ed. Alexis Walker. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
193-205. Print.
Psych Central. Antisocial Personality Disorder. Psych Central, 01 June 2010. Web. 14
July 2011 <http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx7.htm>.
Vorvick, Linda & David Zieve. Antisocial Personality Disorder. Pubmed Health, 14 Nov.
2010. Web. 13 July 2011
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001919/>.