ENGL 4310

I'm with Rachel, in her blog, trying to figure out the Misfit. When I read that the Misfit could not remember what he'd done wrong but said "it was no mistake" and that they had papers saying what he'd done coupled with the fact that the shrink said that what he'd done is killed his father when the Misfit says his father died in the 1919 (WWI) flu epidemic, I came to the conclussion that he murdered someone (not really his father) who in some way represented his father. The Misfit simply did not understand what was the psychologist's reason for motive in the killing. This is supported by the information we are given regarding his relationship with his father: "My daddy said I was a different breed of dog from my brothers and sisters. 'You know. . . it's some that can live their whole life out without asking about it and it's others has to know whyit is, and this boy is one of the latters. He's going to be into everything.'" I got the general impression that he was singled out by his father and perhaps judged and treated like a dog or in a way the Misfit has not been able to deal with. It makes it all the more interesting to note his reaction to the Grandmother's recognition of him as "one of [her] babies." In so doing she touches him and "the Misfit sprang back as if a snade had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest...." It seems that psychologist's explaination for motive has played out again in the Grandmother's case. I'm wondering if anyone else see's it this way?
I'm wondering what you all make of some other things. Like the writting the Misfit seems to be doing in the dirt. Do you think it is reminisant of Christ's writing in the sand? And if so, what are the implications? I see the Grandmother as a sinner as well. She lies- just little white lies like the hidden panel lie that is in the old house and exagerates like saying the car rolled twice. She is a hypocrite, like when she points out that when she was young "children were more respectful" in every sense and then points out the "pickaninny" which undermines her statement as her genereation were probably the most disrespectful of black people and she obviously still is. And she even deny's Jesus as the Christ when she says "Maybe He didn't raise the dead" in order to protect herself. I'm intriged this reading with the statement the Misfit makes on p.150:

I found out the crime don't matter. You can do one thing or you can do
another, kill a man or take his tire off his car, because sooner or later
you're going to forget what it was you done and just be punished for
it.

I also want to know what you think of her saying "I just know your a good man" and the Misfit reacting with "Nome, I ain't a good man," yet she doesn't give this idea up. It is interesting to me that after he says this he puts on the black hat. I know we've talked in class about the black hat and the big deal that was made over it, I just can't help but apply the western or cowboy literature applications of white hat, goodguy; black hat, bad guy. If this even applies, what do you make (if anything) of the grandmother's navy blue hat with white violets?

I'm wondering who is trying to save or help who, the Grandmother who is saying "pray, pray," which I can't help thinking is what she (or I in her place would be doing) should be doing. Or the Misfit who by holding a gun to her is encouraging her to say "I know your a good man," which is not true but the point is that she is not judging or condeming him or others as she recognizes (even if it's just out of selfpreservation) that grace makes them equal, all good if they only confess. I'm wondering I the Misfit has, in a way, confessed to her? The comment the Misfit makes: "No pleasure but meanness," I'm wondering about too. Is the pleasure he finds what I have just mentioned, that this woman is calling him "a good man" and perhaps seeing him with that potential? Or does't it just simply fit or make up for life's (and his own) seemingly unballanced punishments?