What does the Misfit mean with his final line, “She would have been a good woman. . . if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life”?
A Good Man is Hard to Find
One possible interpretation of the Misfit's line is that he is saying that everyone is capable of good and evil, and that it is only through the threat of punishment or the presence of a strong moral compass that we are able to suppress our evil impulses. The Misfit himself is a complex and contradictory character who is capable of both great violence and great compassion. He is also a deeply religious man who is struggling to make sense of a world in which evil seems to be so prevalent.
Another possible interpretation of the Misfit's line is that he is saying that everyone needs to be kept in check, and that without the threat of punishment or the presence of a strong moral compass, people will inevitably fall into evil. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the Misfit himself is a product of a dysfunctional family and a violent upbringing. He never had the opportunity to learn right from wrong, and so he has grown up to be a violent and dangerous man.
Ultimately, the meaning of the Misfit's final line is up to the individual reader to decide. However, it is a powerful and thought-provoking statement that raises important questions about the nature of good and evil, and the role of punishment in society.