The most crucial point in the setting is that it represents the decline of the Old South. Meanwhile, the children despise such states as Georgia and Tennessee. Their grandmother is proud of being born there. As a result, the setting represents a contrast of the values of old and young generations in the story.
Detailed answer:
A Good Man Is Hard to Find is famous Flannery O’Connor’s story that narrates unsettling tales. The actions take place in the South of the United States. Even though the author did not provide any town names, the locations seem to be rural. The setting is vital for the plotline because some characters come from the South. There is a suggestion that she grew on the southern plantation, which she wants to show to her children. Also, her parents were slaves, so she has prejudices about skin color.
The grandmother is a very manipulative character, making her children go with her to see those lands. But her son refuses to join her, and she mentions a secret place she knows there. Eventually, the family goes on a trip from Georgia to Florida. Grandma names various facts about the Southern landscape along the way-kudzu, plantations that no longer exist. Even though they never manage to find those areas, the grandmother keeps traveling until she meets The Misfit.
In general, the setting shows the reader the contrast between the old and young generations’ values. Youths no longer appreciate rural areas since they are not interested in history. In comparison, the grandmother prefers to stick to her past. Places fade away as well as memories and meaningful values.