hehe

Murder is simply not condoned in modern society. In most cases, it is

discouraged sternly, as it constitutes what is probably the most pervasive law of

civilization. People have held fast to the belief that killing a human being is totally

inappropriate in most all circumstances. Among members of society, the prevailing

perception of a murderer is that he is untrustworthy, contemptible, even inhuman. One

question literature often presents is that of which circumstances, if any, might justify

one character killing another in the eyes of society. It is my opinion that, in certain

cases, it is society itself at the root of its own highest offense.
In Flannery O'Connor's short story, "A Good Man Is Hard To Find", there is a

simple man named The Misfit (thus he christened himself, to convey his inability to

reconcile his morals with crime and punishment) . He is characterized as forthright,

sensitive, and polite. He holds firm beliefs and keeps few friends, both of which are

customary for an indescriminate killer, such that he is. It is notable that "good men" are

indeed rare, especially in this story; this murderous fiend happens to possess the most

admirable qualities of them all. He is a complex character, alternately demonized and

humanized by his every word. His motive in murder is spite. He seeks retaliation against

a system that, to him, carries false ideals like that of justice.
Another character pertinent to my argument is Montresor, from Edgar A. Poe's

"The Cask of Amontillado". He is also homicidal, but that is one of the few attributes he

and The Misfit share. Montresor is not a brazen, self-proclaimed villain like The Misfit,

nor is he nearly so prolific with his killing. He exercised a fair amount of discretion

with his one and only murder. Being an upstanding member of European high society,

he didn't sully his hands in the act itself. Instead, he conceived of and executed a plan

involving the slow torture of caged starvation. The plan is to end the life of a long-

standing acquaintance, merely because the man had insulted him.




The Misfit (hereinafter referred to as MF), was recognized early on in life for

being the type of person who would question his own existence.////// It is obvious

about MF, even from just a moment of listening to him, that he is cursed with a jaded

point of view. In particular, he never developed a healthy regard for the law. From his

perspective, this is due to the laws themselves being unfit to follow. If anything, he

seems to enjoy misdeeds. At one telling point in the story, he recalls his first experience

with justice to a family of helpless victims. ////// Reckless crime therefore suits him,

unfortunately, as it grants him a feeling of freedom afforded by sheer indifference to

the overriding system of puzzling penalties. It is the undeniable propensity of the

socially alienated to sabotage that from which they are excluded. As I mentioned, society

avidly opposes murder, so it would have been a natural decision and relatively smooth

transition for MF to go from questioner to killer. Being unable to make sense of society's

imposed moral code, he resorts to superimposing his own code, one of hedonistic sadism.





Montresor, though he is the more upright killer, is by far more malicious. He is

the central character of his story and its narrator. His story's events are all recollections

of his sweet vengeance, filtered through his unique perspective. He recounts the

fruition of his entire plot, proven successful, to avenge himself against a man who

ostensibly means him no harm or offense. Montresor is supremely devilish in his efforts

to lead his chum, Fortunato, to his death. His focus is always on his methods as he

works, in an effort to maximize the effect of his cold revenge on his unwitting friend. It

seems, at times, he is also intent on impressing himself with his inhumanity. How then,

one might ask, can society be held accountable, if he is indeed such a fiend? Shouldn't

he be solely to blame for his selfish crime? There are a few answers.
Montresor is a member of the social elite. He, more than MF, feels the eyes of

society upon him. One in such a position is expected to keep up his appearances, which

requires an impossibly contradictory combination of familial honor and neighborly

civility. Imagine the pressure of being expected to simultaneously uphold family honor

against slander and an outward semblance of respect or humility. One may be duty-

bound to maintain one code in concession to another, contradictory code. This is the

case of Montresor, who is wrapped up in maintaining his honorable appearance to the

point of eventually forsaking his honor. After all, the Montresor family motto is latin for

something like "Don't screw with me or I'll get you". Fortunato should have taken notice

of this.



Both subjects, The Misfit and Montresor, were affected psychologically by their

respective social situations. It is amusing that both characters manage to victimize the

innocent in the interest of justice.