grandmother's gesture towards the Misfit should be interpreted as "a token of true, divine grace and spiritual insight" (Clark 1), or as "the ultimate selfish act, designed to save her own life at any cost" (Bandy 1). Despite the argument of some critics, the grandmother because of her evil attributes, allegorizes society's lack of genuine spirituality.The final and most important scene of the story begins when the grandmother recognizes the Misfit. Immediately, the fate of the family is sealed because the Misfit quickly points out "it would have been better for all of you, lady, if you hadn't of reckernized me" (O'Connor 273). The Misfit admits that he would prefer not to shoot a lady, but because of his complete lack of religious faith knows there's "nothing for you to do but enjoy the few minutes you got left the best way you can-by killing somebody" (O'Connor 277). The Misfit then instructs his gang to begin killing the family. The grandmother, concerned only with herself, "lurches desperately from one strategy to another, not quite admitting to herself that the Misfit will kill her just as casually as he has killed the rest of her family" (Bandy 5). She quickly refers to her antebellum values and compliments the family of the Misfit. This is the grandmother's futile "technique of the insincere compliment" (5), for she is desperate to appeal to the Misfit's virtuous feelings. Unfortunately, the grandmother will not admit to herself that the Misfit is pure evil. Suddenly realizing "her [antebellum] rules, so dependable in the past, have failed" (5), the grandmother cleverly mentions the name Jesus. It is very apparent "that the Grandmother's religion is entirely of the lip-serving variety" (8). Her lack of spirituality is revealed when she questions her own faith by saying, "Maybe He didn't raise the dead" (O'Connor 277). The grandmother, still believing she can save her life, exclaims "You're one of my own children!" (...
