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Flannery O’Connor publication “Good Country People” is a short story that is set on a small tenant farm in Georgia. An accident leaves Joy, the protagonist in the fiction, with one leg and this disfigurement leaves her emotionally scarred. She distances herself from the real world to her intellect world. She changes her name from Joy to Hulga since she feels disturbed by her surroundings and health condition. The book focuses on the themes of alienation and identity. This short story is an exciting piece of art that uses the character Hulga to demonstrate how physical challenges, intellectualism and social class play a role in developing one’s identity. Flannery has a creative way to achieve her interesting piece of art through characters in …show more content…
She has a doctoral degree in philosophy. Her condition after the accident keeps haunting and forces her to live on a rural small farm surrounded by low educated people. She lost her leg while she was only ten years old. Hulga feels that she is crippled both physically and emotionally. Hulga’s decision to become an intellectual being was meant to compensate for her grief. She believes that the formal education she has acquired makes her more superior than the “unintelligent, inferiors” surrounding her. Hulga does not want to identify with the people in the neighborhood; she believes that they have nothing in common. Manley, the Bible salesman, tries to challenge Hulga’s view so as to change her perception, but Hulga thinks that Manly is not different from the “good country people.” She believes that Manley is too inferior to deceive her. Manley tells Hugla that an individuals’ education, social or economic class does not determine their ability to make way in the world. Hulga wants to become as unpleasant as possible as she seems rude to everyone. She resents Mrs. Hopewell, her mother because she does not accept her new identity. Unlike her mother, Hulga does not “hope well” as she claims that her accident took away her hope and faith by taking her leg. Flannery O’Connor also uses Hulga’s background to show how social class divisions in …show more content…
She believes that having faith in God is for the inferior “creatures” of the “Good People Country.” She claims that she is experienced and so, she does not need to have faith. She believes that there is no good or evil. On the other hand, Manley is a man of faith. Manley Pointer, the traveling Bible salesman, represents the Christian morality in the “Good People Country.” Manley uses his Christian faith to get the things that he need including food, money and Hugla. Manley seduces Hugla, but she claims that he does not appeal to her emotions. Hugla learns the hard way that there is evil when Manley took her leg and refused to give her back. She realizes that this world has both good and bad. Manleys’ Christian identity turns out to be fake. Manley seems to be a con artist who uses the Christian character to win not only sexual favors from Hulga but also her prosthetic leg. Hulga’s manner of dressing brings conflict between her and her mother. Mrs. Hopewell thinks that the dress her daughter is wearing is for a six-year old. This behavior shows that despite Hulgas’ Ph.D and changing her identity by name she still behaves like a small child. Joy’s name change to Hulga was also a cause of conflict between her and her mother. Mrs. Hopewell saw these actions as immature and rebellious. Mrs. Hopewell feels that her daughter pondered until she decided to give herself the ugliest name she
Asals, Frederick. Flannery O'Connor : The Imagination of Extremity. University of Georgia Press; Reissue edition. Athens, Georgia, 2007.
“Good Country People” is a story about Joy Hopewell, a very well educated young woman living in the rural south. Joy lost a leg in a hunting accident when she was ten and since then had been forced to wear a wooden replacement. She also had a weak heart and it was this affliction that forced her to remain amongst these “good country people” whom she considered to be intellectual inferiors. Though she had great confidence in her intelligence she had very little self-esteem. Joys’ handicap made her feel ugly, so ugly that much to her mothers’ dismay, she had her name legally changed to the ugliest one she could think of, Hulga. One day a traveling bible salesman named Manley Pointer made a sales call and ended up having dinner with the family.
He has qualities of “good country people” by selling bibles and “not attending college but devotes his life to Christian service” (178). His appearance and name is a great symbol that signifies of something that is not real which connects to Hulga’s name. Manley’s name has an impact towards Hulga because his name signifies a manly figure which is a missing part in Hulga’s life. On the other hand his last name Pointer symbolizes great divulge of something amazing that will stand out in Hulga’s way. However his name is seen as a false and in reality symbolizes the emptiness of a male presence and the revelation that her life consists of only falsities. O’Conner also used a great mirror description between a bible and his name. Manly pulled out two bibles though one “was hollow and contained a pocket flask of whisky, a pack of cards and a small blue box with printing on it” (192). O’Conner used this hallow bible filled with several profane and contrary items as a symbolism to expose the meaning of Manley’s true self character. Manley is seen as a true nihilist, and through his name, hollow bible and false Christian morals he has revealed himself towards Hulga, as a true meaning of simply believing in nihilistic
He takes advantage of others by using religious beliefs to his advantage, exactly the opposite of what Christians do. This allows speculation that his supposed “Bible” that is, in fact, a hollowed out Bible filled with whiskey and condoms. Hulga tells the Bible Salesman: “You’re just like them all — say one thing and do another. You’re a perfect Christian.” (467). The comment made by Hulga suggests that she now sees the hypocrisy that is connected to religion, but throughout the whole story, Hulga’s view of hypocrisy is limited. This is a powerful revelation that for the audience because it suggests that she is a hypocrite too. Hulga believes that she is above conventional morality sheds religion to pursue philosophy, so she can live an ethical life than religious people around her. But with all her knowledge, it only makes her blind to where she cannot see her own
Throughout all of Flannery O’Connor’s work, there are three dominant themes that show themselves: Christianity, irony, and grotesqueness. In nearly every story of hers, O’Connor is able to make a tragic story very grotesque in the way that she describes the events and characters of her story. [add more to introduction]
"Good Country People", by Flannery O’Connor, presents us with a look into the monotonous lives of three women living together on a rural farm. All three women are set in their old-fashioned ways, having experienced very little of life, out on the farm. A bible salesman named Manley Pointer, appearing like nothing more than simple, "good country people"(1), pays them a visit one day. It turns out that this simple countryboy is actually a brilliant con artist who scams the pretentious daughter, Hulga (also known as Joy) into removing her wooden leg, which he proceeds to steal. A great change in Hulga is triggered by her experience with Manley Pointer. Although it was a cruel scam, the bible salesman helps her to see the truth about her education and human nature. Hulga realizes that in addition to book smarts, people skills are also crucial in navigating the real world.
Scott, Nathan A., Jr. "Flannery O'Connor's Testimony." The Added Dimension: The Art and Mind of Flannery O'Connor. Ed. Melvin J. Friedman and Lewis A. Lawson. New York: Fordham UP, 1966. 138-56.
Hopewell, Joy, and Mrs. Freeman, none of these women’s behavior displays quite as many nuances as the Bible salesman’s. Though he and Joy actually share small similarities. They are both emotionally distressed because of the health issues with which they are coping, therefore they project their own internal misery onto everyone else. The difference between them is, the Bible salesman uses deception to lure people into his schemes. Like a green mamba snake slithers around patiently planning an attack on his prey, so does the Bible salesman calmly sweet-talk his way into the hearts of those he wishes to deceive. He is aware of the common positive stereotypes used to describe country people, therefore he is determined to inform Mrs. Hopewell that he is from the country. His efforts to feign innocence and honesty include his use of phrases such as “I know I’m real simple”, “I’m just a country boy”, and “People like you don’t like to fool with country people like me!” He is well aware that the appearance of innocence will enable him to wiggle his way into his victims’
In “Good Country People” there are two characters who believe that they are superior to others. Mrs. Hopewell describes herself as having “no bad qualities of her own” (DiYanni pg.189). She also takes it upon herself to categorize the people she meets as either, “good country people” or “trash,” (pg.188, 189).There do not seem to be any shades of grey in her thinking. Joy/Hulga Hopewell also sees herself as superior, but her superiority lies in her intellect. She makes it known that were it not for her ill health she would be at a university teaching people who “knew what she was talking about” (pg. 191). Although Joy/Hulga believes herself to be intellectually superior she is fooled by the Bible salesman to such an extent that he is able to steal her wooden leg (pg. 200).
A story without style is like a man without personality: useless and boring. However, Flannery O’Connor incorporates various different styles in her narratives. Dark humor, irony, and symbolism are perhaps the utmost powerful and common styles in her writing. From “Revelation” and “Good Country People” to “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” all of O’Connor’s stories consist of different styles in writing.
...another. As mother, she cares for her daughter but struggles to relate with her. She could see Hulga as a professor and Hopewell knows that she wanted to leave home. To compensate for their relationship and Hulga’s condition, Mrs. Hopewell treats her like a child. Hulga is an educated woman but continues to act like a child when it comes to her mother. Not only does she dress like a child, she stomps around the house to ensure that Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman hear her. Hulga does not actually want her mother to understand her because she lashes out at her mother. If she truly wanted her mother to realize her philosophical thought she would have attempted to explain it and not shout at Hopewell. Each woman has her own faults.
The story “Good Country People”, by Flannery O’Conner is a work that uses characterization in a new and interesting way to help shape and present the characters of this story. One of the main characters is Hulga Hopewell, also known as Joy Hopewell. This characters name plays a very ironic role in the story. Through the use of such a peculiar name O’Conner helps to develop and build the characteristics of Hulga. In the story “Good Country People” the use of the name Hulga (Joy) Hopewell helps to further build upon the characterization of Hulga and give the reader a deeper understanding of the character.
In reality, her writing is filled with meaning and symbolism, hidden in plain sight beneath a seamless narrative style that breathes not a word of agenda, of dogma, or of personal belief. In this way, her writing is intrinsically esoteric, in that it contains knowledge that is hidden to all but those who have been instructed as to how and where to look for it, i.e. the initiated. Flannery O'Connor is a Christian writer, and her work is message-oriented, yet she is far too brilliant a stylist to tip her hand; like all good writers, crass didacticism is abhorrent to her. Nevertheless, she achieves what no Christian writer has ever achieved: a type of writing that stands up on both literary and the religious grounds, and succeeds in doing justice to both.
Whitt, Margaret. Understanding Flannery O’Connor. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1995. 47-48, 78. Print.
...sque, and in Flannery O’Connor’s artistic makeup there is not the slightest trace of sentimentally” (qtd. in Bloom 19). Flannery O’Connor’s style of writing challenges the reader to examine her work and grasp the meaning of her usage of symbols and imagery. Edward Kessler wrote about Flannery O’Connor’s writing style stating that “O’Connor’s writing does not represent the physical world but serves as her means of apprehending and understanding a power activating that world” (55). In order to fully understand her work one must research O’Connor and her background to be able to recognize her allegories throughout her stories. Her usage of religious symbols can best be studied by looking into her religious Catholic upbringing. Formalist criticism exists in “A Good Man is Hard to Find” through Flannery O’Connor’s use of plot, characterization, setting, and symbolism.