Character Analysis: The Grandmother and Anders

Introduction

The stories "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" and "Bullet in the Brain" feature interesting characters: the grandmother and Anders. These two folks have different traits that shape how they act and interact. Throughout both tales, they're key figures showing off their unique personalities. This paper will look at how these two characters compare and contrast in the two short stories.

Manipulative Nature

Both the grandmother and Anders are manipulators. In "A Good Man Is Hard To Find," the grandmother doesn't want to go to Florida because she has friends to see in Tennessee. So, she tries everything to change Bailey’s mind (Short Stories, 297). Whenever something doesn't go her way, she tries to get what she wants. She uses sneaky tactics, like trying to scare Bailey with crime reports about Florida. She even says, "I wouldn’t take my children in any direction with a criminal like that loose in it" (Short Stories, 296). Her efforts to stop the trip to Florida show how manipulative she can be.

In "Bullet in the Brain," Anders is also a manipulator. After hearing the ladies talk badly about the bank teller, he forms his "own towering hatred for the teller" (Short Stories, 480). He aims to get the other ladies more upset with the teller, hoping to stir up trouble. When armed men come into the bank, he tries to manipulate the situation by telling the teller "justice is done" (Short Stories, 480), hoping the robbers will shoot her instead of him. Both characters show their manipulative sides through their selfish actions.

Confrontational Styles

These two characters are confrontational, but they do it differently. The grandmother never speaks her mind directly; instead, she is confrontational in a roundabout way. For instance, when Bailey insists on going to Florida, she mentions that the kids have already been there. She uses the kids to convince Bailey to change his mind (Short Stories, 302).

Anders, on the other hand, is straightforwardly confrontational. When he sees the bank teller chatting instead of helping customers, he criticizes her openly, saying, "I think it’s a pretty lousy way to treat your customers" (Short Stories, 481). He continues with statements like "Unforgivable. Heaven will take note." So, while both are confrontational, the grandmother is subtle and Anders is blunt and direct.

Social Interaction

Their social interactions are quite different. The grandmother is friendly and sociable. She wants to visit friends in Tennessee and enjoys being with the kids. She tells stories and engages with them during the trip to Florida (Short Stories, 296-297).

On the flip side, Anders isn’t sociable at all. His antisocial nature is clear in the story. For example, he meets his cousin Coyle for the first time but only says hi to everyone else and "takes no further notice of him" (Short Stories, 484). His quick temper and anger stop him from being social. The conversation of the women that "put him in a murderous temper" (Short Stories, 480) shows this.

Christianity

Lastly, they differ in their Christian beliefs. The grandmother is shown as a good Christian who values prayer. She asks the Misfit if he ever prays and insists he should (Short Stories, 306). She believes prayer can help him. Her actions and words reflect her strong faith.

Anders, however, doesn’t show any signs of being religious. The author gives a glimpse into Anders' past, like crashing his dad’s car and being in anti-war rallies, but there’s no mention of his religious beliefs or prayers (Short Stories, 484).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the grandmother in "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" and Anders in "Bullet in the Brain" have some similarities and differences. They both manipulate others, but their styles and reasons are different. They're also both confrontational, each with their own way of doing it. Their social interactions and Christian beliefs are very different too. Despite these differences, they both end up getting shot, showing their complex roles in their stories.