Good Country People Essay

Good Country People Essay
In Flannery O'Connor's story, "Good Country People" the symbol of traveling Bible Salesman
Manley Pointer's hollow bible outwardly represents an image of faith and morality, appearing to
be full of the word of God, while holding items that are in direct conflict with biblical morals.
Manley Pointer is not the person he presents himself to be when he meets Mrs. Hopewell. Thus, he
resembles the hollow bible, acting directly opposite of who he really is to purposefully deceive
others.
Deception is most successful when there is a grain of truth blended into the lie. The liar's perversion
of the truth is blinding to many people. Science writer Maria Konnikova notes "We con ourselves as
much as [con artists] con us, because we supply the...show more content...
Manley Pointer's deception includes acting "simple" to con Hulga into believing she is smarter
than he is. The con is successful at first, "Hulga considers herself superior to good country people
because she is highly educated and has come to the conclusion that God is a lie," (Kirk, 2008).
Hulga is blinded by his deception and is convinced she is intellectually superior to him. She
fantasizes about seducing Manley in an effort to prove to him that he is inferior to her. He
compellingly acts unsophisticated and naive.
Manley presents an image of faith and morality, appearing to be full of the word of God, while
demonstrating values that are in direct conflict with biblical morals. Manley's attraction to Hulga
is strengthened when he finds out she has a weak heart and a prosthetic leg, both of which, have
kept her from carrying on with an ordinary life. Manley Pointer discloses to Hulga he additionally
has a frail heart. She accepts his invitation to accompany him into the woods with plans to seduce
him, believing wholeheartedly that Manley is a devout Christian, with high morals. During their
walk they find a barn and climb into a hayloft to enjoy an intimate moment. However, Hulga's plan
of seduction falls apart when she discovers Manley is full of hypocrisy. After some passionate
kissing and the removal of both her glasses and her prosthetic leg, "[he] took one of [the Bibles] out
and opened the cover of
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Good Country People
GOOD COUNTRY PEOPLE by Flannery O 'Connor The short story Good Country People was
written by O'Connor. The story introduces us to well–educated a woman who was thirty–two years
old. This woman has an artificial leg which was shot off in a hunting accident when she was ten.
She went to college and earned a doctorate in philosophy. She has a heart condition; so she cannot
work and has to live at home with her mother. The name given to her is Joy but she changed her
name to Hulga. She mocks her mother who treats her like child even though she is past her
childhood years. Joy has changed her name to Hulga, which is a symbol of the control she has for
her own life and the ugly lack of meaning she sees in the world around her. Hulga is an...show more
content...
She is moved, and tenderly surrenders her prosthetic leg to him. Manley tells her to wait he soon
opens his suitcase which has blue on it. The suitcase is blue just like his suit and the Quote "The
approach to nothing". He pulls out a hollow Bible which has a flask of whisky, naked girl cards,
and condoms. Hulga cannot believe what is happening she asked if he is "good country people"
(193). He cocked his head. He thought she was trying to insult him. He said "Yeah" "But it aint
held me back none I'm as good as you any day in the week" (375). This could be understood as
Manley thinking that Joy–Hulga is no better than him and she shouldn't be judging him since she is
a Nihilist/atheist just like him. The blue in the story soon comes to represent the fact that we can
know nothing even something as simple as a bible salesman; who is thought to be good country
person. Its mentioned in the story that Manley is tired and out of breath. He arrives at the
Hopewell house "on the point of collapse" and on his way to the covert picnic with Hulga, is twice
described as "panting" while he is climbing the ladder in the barn when he speaks (185, 190–191).
When last seen by Hulga, he is "struggling" over the hill as he flees with her leg It may appear that
Manley 's "weak heart" is a falsehood, contrived to gain sympathy and increase his Bible sales.
Manley is a liar and a fraud, but his "heart condition" is a genuine

The short story "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor reveals that evil comes in many
disguises and that it will try to harm believers and even nonbelievers. Manley Pointer's character
serves as evil and is similar to the serpent in the bible. Manley Pointer has crafty evil ways, he is
malicious, and deceitful just as the serpent was to Adam and Eve in the Bible. Manley Pointer is
introduced as a good country simple young man who is going around selling Bibles. He tries to
sell Mrs. Hopewell a bible but she does not buy one, because she has one already so she invites
Manley to stay for dinner. As she talks to him she is under the impression that he is a good country
person, which she believes is a person who is a person from the...show more content...
Hulga, Mrs. Hopewell daughter who is an atheist and has a Ph.D. in philosophy, has a wooden leg
and a heart condition. Her heart is weak in physically and emotionally because she does not have
the ability to love. When she meets Manley "[it] is clear in her plans for Pointer that she sees him
as someone who is calculable, someone she can quantify and classify in order to use for her own
ends" (Hubbard par.25). Hulga believes that her intelligence is superior to everyone and she can
use it to get what she wants. Little does she know that Manley also does not believe in God and that
makes him "outside her means of calculation and system of ordering as "standing reserve"–leads to
her devastating humiliation and loss" (par.26). Manley is just like her, but worst. While she tries
to take advantage of him, he plans to take advantage of her. While on their picnic "Manley
Pointer, a boy with eyes as sharp as "two steel spikes", realizes how superficial her intelligence is,
how easily it can be taken away from her, and how meaningless it is in the real world" (Oliver
par.4). Just as the serpent was successful in making Eve believe that was okay to eat an apple of
the Tree of Knowledge, Manley make Hulga believe that it is okay to go out with him and that she
will be safe. Manley now knows exactly what he can do to Hulga, and that is taking her soul. As
the serpent in the Bible gained the trust of Eve and in the end her soul was destroyed. It did not take

Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor has various symbolism being portrayed in the story
like the comparison of Mrs. Freemans face to that of a heavy truck. The story takes place on a
tenant farm in Georgia. Mrs. Freeman is a worker for Mrs. Hopewell, who is divorced and is an
owner of a farm. She works as a tenant farmer for her and lives right next door to her. Mrs.
Freeman has two daughters, Glynese which is eighteen years old and she has "many admirers"
and Carramae who is fifteen years old however she is married and pregnant. Mrs. Hopewell also
has a daughter. Her daughter's name is Joy which later changes to Hulga in the course of the story.
Joy is thirty–two years old with a Ph.D. and she has a wooden leg. In a nutshell, the story talks
about is mainly about Joy, who loses her leg while hunting and now has a wooden leg. She meets
Manley Pointer who is a door–to–door Bible salesman that emotionally deceives her of being in love
and later takes her wooden leg. In "Good Country...show more content...
The setting of the story is on a tenant farm in Georgia, which is owned by Mrs. Hopewell. This is
where Mrs. Freeman works as a tenant farmer. The story actually begins in Mrs. Hopewell's
kitchen. The kitchen is seen as the center of the home where Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman did
"the most important business in the kitchen at breakfast" which was gossiping. The kitchen was
also where most of the characters gathered in the morning to have conversations and the argument
between Mrs. Hopewell and Joy/Hulga. The kitchen setting also showed women's daily life
without men. Another setting O'Connor uses are when Joy/Hulga meets Manley by the gate. The
Gate in the story represents a way out of a different life and freedom. It is also an opportunity to
find yourself and new ways of doing things. The gate also shows has overcome fear and walking out
of

Good Country People Comparison
Similar Relations Flannery O'Connor used a very different type of southern gothic writing style.
Her writing had an unexpected turn of events and cliffhangers making the readers have to think
about what the ending would be like. Two of her stories "Good Country People" and "A Good
Man is Hard to Find" both display O'Conners religious Catholic background. At the end, the turn of
events for these stories is drastic, for example, in "A Good Man is Hard to Find" the Grandmother
gets shot dead. While in "Good Country People" Joy loses her dignity, pride, and faith in men. They
both change a great deal when abandoned hopeless. Joy and the Grandmother are ultimately different
there's no debate there, but when put in "do or die" situations they both have similar qualities. For
instance, they both referenced Jesus or religion to try and help their–selves bail out of the situation.
In "Good Country People" Joy says to Manly Pointer "You're a fine Christian! You're just like them
all– say one thing and do another" (GCP 13). On the other hand, in "A Good Man is Hard to Find"
the Grandmother says to the Misfit"If you would pray,...show more content...
Like, the Grandmother thinks she can help herself in this situation, she displays extreme
confidence and even goes as far as saying the Misfit is like one of her own children "Why you're
one of my babies. You're one of my own children!" (AGMIHTF 11). However Joy does not
exemplify confidence she is shocked after she finds out Manly Pointer's true intentions. She stays
sitting down, contemplating and doesn't say anything as Pointer is walking away. She's
embarrassed and disappointed for letting anybody in her trust circle as she usually stayed to
herself. The biggest difference of all though, between their encounters is the Grandma in "A Good
Man is Hard to Find" ends up getting killed, while Joy in "Good Country People" winds up
embarrassed and missing her

Good Country People Analysis Essay
"Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor is a short story told in third person omniscient
point of view. The story contains a lot of irony, symbolism, imagery, and many more literary
devices. Flannery O'Connor's purpose was to demonstrate how "good country people" are not so
"good." Instead, they were categorized as "trash" and "good." The short story interprets how the
characters are contradictory and how women are portrayed in 1955 as well as today's society. One
of the characters in the story was Mrs. Hopewell. Flannery O'Connor conveyed Mrs. Hopewell as a
very positive and optimistic individual. According to the text it states "Nothing is perfect. This was
one of Mrs.Hopewell's favorite saying. Another was: this is life! And...show more content...
This particular literary device is so significant in this story because it explains why Joy is
considered as weak as her mother. In addition, Joy's leg had been removed due to a hunting
accident that occurred when she was ten. She was also told she may live to see the age of
forty–five because she had a weak heart. Therefore, she felt hopeless and no words of
encouragement. In "Good Country People," it states "All day Joy sat on her neck in a deep chair,
reading. Sometimes she went for walks but she did not like dogs or cats or birds or flowers or
nature or nice young men." This statement exemplifies a hyperbole. O'Connor does this intentionally
to demonstrate how much faith and confidence she had lost within herself to express to readers her
particular role and actions in the story. O'Connor also uses ambiguity in the text. "Her name was
really Joy but as soon as she was twenty–one and away from home, she had had it legally changed.
Mrs. Hopewell was certain that she had thought and thought until she had hit upon the ugliest name
in any language. Then she had gone and had the beautiful name, Joy, changed without telling her
mother until after she had done it(O'Connor,274)." This statement displayed how Mrs. Hopewell
was unsupportive as well as too lenient. It also proved how weak woman were in society. It proved it
because woman are usually known to be strong, independent, and confident. Identity is important,
however, Hulga did not believe so. Which

Good Country People
"Good Country People" Questions
1) My initial response to the story's title is that the short story was going to be about a happy
family that lived in the country and drama to make the story interesting. At the start, it seemed as if
anybody that was from the country were "good" and never did anything wrong throughout their
entire life. The story basically begins right after Mrs. Hopewell says, "the reason for her keeping
them so long was that they were not trash. They were good country people" (185). That's when I
realized that I was completely wrong about what I thought this story was going to be about. Mrs.
Hopewell, is the main character, and rents out part of her house to the Freeman's. Throughout the
story, Mrs. Hopewell's...show more content...
Freeman (194). This evil smell symbolizes the reek that Manley is leaving behind in the form of
Hulga's ruined life. She has finally met her beliefs, and they have destroyed her.
5) O'Connor seems to admire Mrs. Hopewell the most. That is because it seemed like O' Connor
made the reader really focus on how Mrs. Hopewell was always caring, and interested in how
Hulga was doing. Whether it was still treating her like a child, it also was due to the fact that she
cared about everyone, and always tried to see the bright side and good in everyone. Hulga had a
sassy attitude, and always had something smart to say back to her mom like, "If you want me, here I
am–like I AM" (186). Ironically, when the bible salesmen was with them, Hulga referred to him
as, "get rid of the salt of the earth, and let's eat" (189). Hulga's mom constantly said how "good
country people" were the salt of the Earth, so Hulga decided to use mockery in order to explain
herself.
6) In Flannery O' Connor's, "Good Country People" there are a couple different religious values
that each characters have. Hulga is an atheist, while the bible salesman claims he is a Christian.
Mrs. Hopewell makes it seem like to Manly that she is religious by saying she "keeps her Bible by
my beside" (189). The only character in "Good Country People" with a relationship with God is the
Bible salesman, but his fable of faith is unexpectedly crushed near the end of the story. This occurs
when he

Good Country People Character Analysis
"Good Country People" is a story written by Flannery O'Connor in 1955. It is a story written
about four main characters; Mrs. Hopewell the overprotective mother, and Mrs. Freeman the
helping hand, Manley Pointer the bible and Joy Hulga the dependent scholar. Mrs. Hopewell is
Joy's mother and Mrs. Freeman is there maid. Manley is the bible salesman's who goes town to
town scamming people. The story talks about good country people and who are considered good
country people. As soon as Joy was old enough and away from her mother, she changed her name
is Hulga. Joy Hulga has a problem with not being able to accept that the world has good and bad
people. Joy Hulga has a chip on her shoulder about everything that transpire throughout "Good
Country People". Joy Hulga's unapologetic attitude, harsh treatment from others and belief in
people bring about her downfall in "Good Country People". Joy Hulga is unapologetic about her
attitude because she feels like if it wasn't for something wrong with her she would live a feel life
and be normal. Joy Hulga tends to get into trouble with her attitude but everyone seems to excuse
it because of her leg. "Mrs. Hopewell excused this attitude because of the leg (which had been
shot off in a hunting accident when Joy was a teen)" (483). It indicates she gets away with her
attitude because they consider her leg to be a crutch. Flannery states "her face purple and her
mouth half full "Woman do you ever look inside" (485). She looks are her

Good Country People Summary
Flannery O'Connor is the author of "Good Country People" set on a Southern farm in 1955. Joy
who is the daughter of Mrs. Hopewell changes her name to Hulga, is not joyful but very grumpy.
Manley Pointer is a Bible salesman who is thought of as unintelligent, uncomplicated, and
inferior. Mrs. Hopewell is Hulga's mother and is the most famous of her clichГ©s. Mrs. Freeman
has worked for Mrs. Hopewell on the farm for the last four years and is mysterious. The story
begins when Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Hopewell are up early like every morning to take care of
important business. The daughters of the two are always the main topic of their morning
conversations. Joy has a grumpy attitude but Mrs. Hopewell allows this because of her missing leg.
Hulga

In both "Good Country People" and "A Good Man is Hard to Find" the definition of good is
somewhat skewed, when I read the stories the people who are depicted as good are actually quite
bad. In "Good Country People", the sheer fictional elements such as Hulga having a wooden leg
only for it to be stolen by a Bible salesman with a nasty habit of stealing from others on his travels
is an interesting development that defines Hulga's revelation in such that keeps the reader satisfied.
Such elements also show that no matter the person, however they are, can be capable of evil and
that not everyone by appearance is as they seem. To add on to this, both Pointer coming across as a
well–raised Christian and Hulga's mother always being so conscious and judgmental of her
choices further strengthen that ugliness in such terms as one being grotesque stems from the
nature of a person for who they are as an individual. "Lord. He bored me to death but he was so
sincere and genuine I couldn't be rude to him. He was just good country people, you know– just the
salt of the earth." (441) I believe that this quotation reveals how much people are willing to assume
that people are good just by the way the look and act. (salt of the earth: One of the examples an
individual or group considered...show more content...
The grandmother referred to the man who worked at the stop as a good man because of his good
action "Said they worked at the mill and you know I let them fellers charge the gas they bought?
Now why did I do that? Because you are a good man!" (426) Meanwhile, in this quotation, "Listen,
you shouldn't call yourself The misfit because I know you are a good man at heart. I can just look
at you and tell." (430), she basis's it off looks . Like I wrote from the previous homework in this
story no one is truly a good person not even the extremely moralistic , Christian

Theme Of Good Country People
The purpose of this essay is to correlate the theme of three different stories that had been read. I
decided to choose the stories "Good Country People", "Hills Like White Elephants", and "The
Storm." I believe that the theme across these stories is to beware of the wolf in sheep clothing. In
these stories, there was an antagonist that posed as a protagonist who even though their intentions
may have looked well skin deep, the underlying intentions against the main character were not of
good intent. I will describe certain situations in each of the three stories that show the theme I have
noted.
I believe that a good person is truly hard to find in this wicked world. In the story "Good Country
People," I think that the basis of religion...show more content...
"I hope you don't think," he said in a lofty, indignant tone, "that I believe in that crap! I may sell
Bibles but I know which end is up and I wasn't born yesterday and I know where I'm going!" "Give
me my leg!" she screeched.
"I've gotten a lot of interesting things," he said. "One time I got a woman's glass eye this way.
And you needn 't think you'll catch me because Pointer ain't really my name. I use a different name
at every house I call at and don't stay nowhere long. And I 'll tell you another thing, Hulga," he said,
"you ain't so smart. I been believing in nothing ever since I was born!" (O 'Connor)
The climax for me was near the end of the story when he begins to take advantage of her and she
says to him, "You're a Christian!" (O 'Connor) That imagery that all Christians are perceived as
good people sometimes may not always be the truth. The next story is about the feeling, or lack
therein, of a mother and her unborn child. In the second story, "Hills Like White Elephants," I
believe that the story had a subliminal message that is possibly related to the operation being an
abortion. When the lady in the story said, "The hills look like white elephants." (Hemmingway) I
believe that she was using a metaphor that the hills were her unborn baby and the white elephant was
something that no one wanted. The American man made an interesting statement by saying: "It 's
really an awfully simple operation, Jig," the man said. "It 's not

Good Country People Wise
Books may teach us many lessons, but real life experience is what makes people wise. Being
smart is not the same as being wise. A person can be smart, he or she can have many degrees and
diplomas, but unless he or she have experience life, they will not be wise. Flannery O'Connor's
"Good Country People" shows that people can be well educated and not be wise. Joy and Mrs.
Hopewell think that they have the world figured out, but when they encounter Manley Pointer, a
"simple country boy", they will finally see the world as it is: manipulative and more complex than
they ever imagine. Mrs. Hopewell believes she is wise by being so accepting of others, but she does
not realise that she is neglecting the person that needs her acceptance the most, Joy. Joy thinks she
is wise and smart for attending college. She looks down with disdain at other people but what she
does not realise is that she might be smart but she is not wise. Both Mrs. Hopewell and Joy are
tricked by Manley Pointer, the bible salesman, due to their extreme blindness to their
surroundings. Even though Mrs. Hopewell loves her daughter, she is blind to Joy's need for
acceptance. Mrs. Hopewell does not understand that Joy is content with the way she is, therefore
Mrs. Hopewell is alway trying to get Joy to smile and be pleasant. This gets on Joy's nerves and
makes her crave acceptance even more. "...[W]hen Joy had to impressed for these services, her
remarks were usually so ugly and her face so glum that Mrs. Hopewell

Summary Of ' Good Country People '
Alexandra Dorman Mrs. Ermis English 1302.02N 1 November 2014 Summary of "Good Country
People" In each of Flannery O'Connor's works she inhabits a Christian aspect or theme. In
O'Connor's short story Good Country People, a 32–year–old atheist woman named Joy is faced with
the representation of evil in our society. The protagonist Joy believes that her name doesn't fit
who she is. Because of this opinion she decides to legally change her name to Hulga. When Hulga
was 10 years old she was in a hunting accident, which caused her to end up needing an artificial leg
for the rest of her life. She also has a "weak heart", the doctors have told her she probably will not
make it to 42–years–old. As her life has gone by Hulga has become angry and bitter. But one day, a
man named Manley Pointer, a bible salesman shows up to her house. When he comes into the
house he charms the 3 women in the house. By the end of the visit, he has made a plan to meet
Hulga at the gate at 10 o' clock the next day. The first thing Manley asks about is her artificial leg.
He could tell that, that wasn't a comfortable subject for her so he dropped it. That day Hulga
receives her first kiss; she wasn't practically impressed. As the day goes by you can see Hulga's
plan to seduce him starts to unfold. They end up going to a barn and start kissing, Suddenly
Manley says he loves her and demands she say it back. Soon he convinces her to show him how to
take her leg off and put it on. This to Hulga made her

Essay about Good Country People
Good Country People "Woman, Do You Ever Look Inside?"
There are many themes within Flannery O'Connor's short story "Good Country People". Religion
is definitely one of the more prominent themes that the story holds. Like most of O'Connor's works,
it plays a big part in the actions or characteristics of the main characters. This is all on the surface
however. The more important and less accentuated theme is the various facades the characters create
for themselves. These facades prevent them from facing their true "grotesque" selves. These facades
also hide their weaknesses that they have no wish to face ort just can't understand. People must be
comfortable with every aspect of themselves, because certain people, who in this story...show more
content...
The quote acts as foreshadowing for what her attitude towards life will be. We later find out that she
is right, but that she does not live by her credo. Manley Pointer exploits this weakness as soon as she
opened her door. Showing up as a pathetic bible salesman with an ailing heart (which is
coincidentally exactly what Joy–Hulga had) laying the old guilt trip on Mrs. Hopewell on how no
one wants to deal with a simple country boy like himself, he attacks her weakness right at the
heart of it. Not more than two minutes after he knocked on the door, he ends up eating dinner
with them and at the conclusion is even invited to return any time he'd like. His persona blinds
Mrs. Hopewell and prevents her from being somewhat suspicious of Manley. At the end of the story,
we see that Mrs. Hopewell is still clouded by her weakness and refers to Manly as simple as he
passes through a field by Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman. Unlike Mrs. Hopewell, Joy–Hulga faces
and comes to a realization of her weakness.
Joy–Hulga, who had grown cynical and cold as she grew up with only one leg and heart ailment,
creates an image that she is smarter and better than the rest of the characters in the story. Her
education and self–absorption seemed to instill this attitude in her to greater extent than if she
hadn't studied and read so much. Her weakness is the feeling of power she believed she gained from
her studies. She refers to herself as a person who "sees

Good Country People Analysis
"Good Country People" by Flanner O'Connor is an excellent example of the effective use of irony
and character development. From start to finish there is a steady progression of irony that stems
from the title of Good Country People. Some instances of irony are blatant, but others need a
closer reading to find. It's amazing the complexity of the characters that occurs in such a short
span of pages. The success of "Good Country People" comes not only from O'Connor's use of
irony but also from the interplay among and the complexity of her main characters. As the story
begins, we are first introduced to Mrs. Freeman, a hired hand on the Hopewell farm. At first
glance Mrs. Freeman appears to be simple "good country people," but that is not the case. It is
very ironic that Mrs. Hopewell refers to her as a "lady and that she was never ashamed to take her
anywhere or introduce her to anybody that they might meet" (452.) In reality Mrs. Freeman is a
busybody and harbors secret fascination with the macabre. She has "a special fondness for the
details of secret infections, hidden deformities, assaults upon children. Of diseases she preferred
the lingering or the uncurable" (455). Her secret fascination and penchant for gossip is quite
different from what one would think "good country people" let alone a "lady" would be interested
in. Mrs. Freeman never hesitates to share the details of her daughters' lives with Mrs. Hopewell. One
gets the impression that Mrs. Freeman will divulge

Themes Of Good Country People
Flannery O'Connor's short story "Good Country People" depicts Hulga, a highly educated woman
and has a PhD, is being jerked around by an immoral bible salesman. "A good man is hard to find"
is a story of a grandmother and her family murdered by a horrible man who called "the misfit"
during the road trip. Although "Good country people" and "a good man is hard to find" are written
by the same author, many elements in those two stories cause them have similar themes in religion,
misplace trust and protagonist and antagonist.
In "Good country people", Hulga believes in nothing and she is one of the non–religious people.
Mrs. Hopewell introduces Hulga to the bible salesman that Hulga is an atheist and won't let Mrs.
Hopewell keeps the Bible...show more content...
at last Hulga realizes that a good country people is hard to find in the word.
Similarly, the grandmother, one of the central character in "a good man is hard to find", believes the
misfit's conscience did not quite gone out of him. Although the grandmother tells the misfit that he
is good and won't kill woman couple of times and she tries to persuade the misfit not to kill her, the
grandmother and her family murdered by the inhumane and deadly man in the end of the story. there
is doubt that trust is one of the most important element to affect this story.
Hulga is an unlikely character in "good country people" as the protagonist. The actions and beliefs of
the protagonist drives the climax of this short story. In the story, hulga changes her name from Joy
to Hulga which means hulk and ugly; Mrs. Hopewell said this is the ugliest name she ever heard
before. Because of hulga's PhD in philosophy, she places her faith in wisdom rather than religion.
Simply put, Hulga is an unpopular person and the obviously protagonist in the story.
The antagonist in the short story "a good man is hard to find", the grandmother appears in the short
story very first seems like a good but actually she is bad because of her dishonesty and selfishness.
In the begging of the story, the grandmother debates with her family where should they go for the
road trip because the grandmother "wanted to visit some of her

Good Country People Summary
The story "Good Country People" is a short story by Flannery O'Connor about a woman who gets
fooled by a young nineteen year old boy who goes by the name Manley Pointer. We find out
closer to the end of the story that this is not actually his name. His real name is not ever
mentioned, probably because of the ominous nature that comes with his character type. He can
be looked at as the antagonist in this story, but there is a special saving grace about his character
that leads the woman to a moment of clarity. The characters of interest within the story are that of
the boy, the woman, and the woman's mother. The one being written about on page 281 is the
woman. She is thirty two years old and, according to herself, does not have a very good life. She
had a hunting accident when she was ten years old in which she lost one of her legs. She has a
wooden leg now and ever since the accident has proved herself as worthy by excelling in school
and receiving a Ph.D. in philosophy. Now that she doesn't have school to prove herself, she has
become lost within her thoughts and within her books. O'Connor provides two...show more content...
They go on an adventure to a barn where this interaction occurs. Manley asks her to show him
where the wooden leg attaches to her "stump", and she becomes very offended by this. O'Connor
tells us that she is very sensitive about her leg and she treats it as her soul. So much so that she is
very careful when handling it and she even hesitates to look at it when she takes it on and off.
O'Connor uses a comparison of a peacock and its tail. This comparison brings the reader to think
about beauty and its complexity. The leg represents the most beautiful piece of Joy's body and it
is what makes her complete. This is why she is so protective of it and why she exclaims to Manley
"No," (281). As the story proceeds, we find that Manley is not who he says he is and ends up
stealing the wooden leg from Joy, leaving her on in the

"Good Country People" is a classic short story by contemporary American author Flanner O'Connor.
Published in 1955, it a compilation of symbolism, imagery, characterization, irony, and allegory
which created a Christian Humanism short story. The most famous yet clichГ©d Idiom "Pride goes
before a fall;" adapted from the book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible, is exemplified both literally and
figuratively in this short story. Its central message goes to show how the attitude one portrays can
lead to their self–destruction. Flannery O'Connor's characters are flawed in some way or the other.
Most of them err spiritually or morally. In her writings, these flaws can be found mostly in those
who are physically impaired; "bodily handicaps symbolizes...show more content...
It may have not happened instantaneously but it did happen. The study of eternalism is one which
shows us that everything is "in good order." (Chapman). Post trauma victims go through phases
before they eventually reach to the nihilistic state, and this was no different with Joy–Hulga. We met
Joy–Hulga as an 'off standish,' 'religious hating,' angry, cynical and distasteful character in the story
'Good Country People.' We acquired snippets into her life which then allowed us to empathize with
her character. O'Connor took Joy–Hulga through a traumatic experience which produced, in the end,
a defenseless and hopeless character once more. She made her suffer at the hands of a gun; having
one of her legs being shot off while she was still conscious of the suffering and pain. As she grew,
she began developing resentment towards the Bible and religion. Her last name; "Hopewell" meant
'hope – well' but she had no hope. She felt betrayed and loss, the odds were definitely not in her
favour. We can imagine an adolescent entering puberty 'hoping well,' that her leg was going to get
better someday, but it never did. This eventually drove her to

Main Themes In Good Country People
Flannery O'Connor is an American short story writer and her short story "Good Country People"
depicts Hulga, a highly educated woman and has a PhD, is being jerked around by an immoral
bible salesman. "A good man is hard to find", also written by O'Connor, is a short story of a
grandmother and her family murdered by a horrible man who called "the misfit" during the road trip
to Florida. Although "Good country people" and "a good man is hard to find" are written by the
same author, many elements in those two stories cause them have similar themes in religion,
misplaced trust and protagonist and antagonist.
In "Good country people", Hulga believes in nothing, therefore she is one of the non–religious
people. Mrs. Hopewell's words is a good...show more content...
This story uses metaphor to mention lots Christian symbols and the different actions between
religion–religious people and non–religious people.
In "good country people", Hulga's trust is misplacing and it leads to her artificial leg be stole by
Manley. Hulga placing her trust in a stranger and believes the bible salesman is purely good and
honest; she even imagines to seduce the salesman. However, the immoral salesman lies to Hulga
and takes her wooden leg then disappeared. At last Hulga realizes that good country people are
hard to find in the word. Mrs. Hopewell also placing her trust in the immoral bible salesman, both
Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell erred in believing that the bible salesman is good and honest. Therefore,
misplacing trust in strangers is one of the most important theme leads to the story progresses.
Similarly, the grandmother, one of the central character in "a good man is hard to find", believes the
misfit's conscience did not quite go out of him. Although the grandmother tells the Misfit that he is
good and won't kill woman couple of times and she tries to persuade the misfit not to kill her, the
grandmother and her family murdered by the inhumane and deadly man in the end of the story.
There is the doubt that trust is one of the most important element to affect this story.
Hulga is an unlikely character in "good country people" as the protagonist. The actions and beliefs of
the protagonist

Feminism and Historicism play a major part in Flannery O'Connor's short story, "Good Country
People", first published in 1955. The story focuses on the importance of identity and the parallels
between truth and deception. In "Good Country People", the Hopewell family, maintain a small
farm in rural Georgia with the help of tenants the Freemans. The pious Mrs. Hopewell's mottos
'nothing is perfect' and 'it takes all kinds to make the world' are manifested in her unmarried
thirty–two year old daughter, Joy who later changes her name to Hulga, wears a prosthetic wooden
leg because of a childhood accident. Hulga who has a Ph.D. in Philosophy, cannot advance her
academic aspirations because of a weak heart; because of this she must live in her...show more
content...
The family farm despite the absent economic power of a male character leads the Hopewell women
to assume all the open roles while simultaneously maintaining their femininity (Smith 36); they must
assume a dual task by acting male in public but privately preserving their womanhood. These gender
roles, however, cannot be fully explained without looking at the relationship between mother and
daughter; despite their common sex, their relationship is seen as a disturbing force where mother
and daughter are at often at odds with each other.
Mrs. Hopewell is a hard working widow who assumes the male role by being the primary care–giver
and supporter to her special needs daughter. Hulga, despite her independence streak is determined
to make a life on her own; she gives almost a reversed protest against her mother despite the care
she receives. Her education does not lead her to live a more successful life, she fails to live up to
her mother's example and expectation that Hulga's sisters, Glynese and Carramae, have already
successfully copied. O'Connor writes that "Glynese, a redhead, was eighteen and had many
admirers; Carramae, a blonde, was only fifteen but already married and pregnant" (151).
In reading O'Connor's "Good Country People", I have found the Hopewell women do adopt a
masculine ethic, although it's important to note that they do purely by choice; their aggressive
behavior, particularly

Good Country People Essay

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Good Country People Essay