IntroductionAuthors use literary elements to communicate directly with their readers. Literary elements make a story interesting and enjoyable for readers. In the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” author O'Connor uses various literary elements to highlight the consequences of not following social rules (O'Connor, 2015). This article discusses the literary elements used by the author to portray the theme of the story through the use of conflict, setting, and characterization. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay There is an element of conflict between good and evil in the story. In the story, the protagonist, the grandmother, is portrayed as someone who follows the rules of society (O'Connor, 2015). She has positive behaviors that have allowed her to avoid wrong actions and therefore potential consequences. On the other hand there is the evil person; the misfit who doesn't follow the rules of society. The conflict in this story arises when the grandmother tries to shape the misfit's behaviors. The use of conflict in the story highlights the need to make good choices if there are consequences for failure. The setting is also another literary element used by the author to portray the theme of the story. The story was set in Atlanta and depicts various social norms in that particular time (O'Connor, 2015). The setting further portrays the state's violation of civil rights that sparked the civil rights movement demanding change. The setting reflects a changing world and criminal activities in society. The context supports the hypothesis that rules can sometimes be broken for justifiable reasons. Advocacy for equal rights was the result of harsh rules imposed in society where everyone had to conform to failure resulting in consequences. O'Connor used characterization to portray the theme of the story through the main characters, the grandmother and the misfit. (O'Connor, 2015). The author describes the misfit as a bad person with a criminal past but who on the other hand is a religious person. On the other hand, the grandmother is a character who portrays moral superiority in the story. Grandma holds the assumption that if you do good things and conform to all social rules, you will refrain from various forms of punishment. Misfit portrays the difference between religious rules and ethical rules (O'Connor, 2015). It clearly shows that you need to follow social rules regardless of your religious beliefs and background. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion In conclusion, in every society, there are individuals who follow the rules while others do not stick to those rules. Although there must be rules governing the conduct of people in society, those rules must be fair to everyone to avoid oppressing certain groups in society. O'Connor's story describes how rules affect different people in society. It also highlights the reasons in which society can ask for change in case it is oppressed by laws.