PDF downloads of all 1725 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Disease is present throughout much of OConnors work, and she uses it to show how true hardship and an awareness of ones own mortality can transform people. . However, her foil, Joy considers life as a meaningless existence. This shows that her approach to life is wrong. O'Connor, however, does not depict Mrs. Freeman as an example of "good country people.". She reluctantly agrees to his demands because she does not want to lose what he is offering. That night, she lies in bed imagining dialogues between herself and Pointer that are insane on the surface but which reach below to depths that no Bible salesman would be aware of. Good Country People offers few glimpses of true, authentic faith. She calls all of her former tenants trash but likes Mrs. Freeman as a good tenant. As she says that Manleys observation of her is like encountering a new fantastic animal at the zoo. ", Hulga's manner of dress also contributes to the vast misunderstanding that exists between the two women. Refine any search. Read the Study Guide for Flannery O'Connors Stories, Tempus Fugit: A Different View of Southern Hospitality, Conflicting Identity Schemas in Everything That Rises Must Converge, Flannery O'Connor's Intellectuals: Exposing Her World's Narrow "Field of Vision", A Grave Mistake: The Irony of Sheppard's Selfishness, View our essays for Flannery O'Connors Stories, Introduction to Flannery O'Connor's Stories, View the lesson plan for Flannery O'Connors Stories, View Wikipedia Entries for Flannery O'Connors Stories. Why or why not? He can fulfill his ends in any way whether good or bad. Mrs. Hopewell treats her like a small child because she thinks that Joy has seen enough illnesses in her life. Hulgas deformity, her missing leg, has shaped her as a character. The last two paragraphs of the story, concerning Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman, were added at the suggestion of O'Connor's editor. This story is divided into four rather distinct sections which help emphasize the relationships between the four central characters. Manley is surprised to see that Joy can climb the ladder in the barn. This scene also echoes OConnors lifeits rumored that she only ever kissed one person one time (a textbook salesman), who described it like kissing a skeleton., Hulga still sees herself as the savvy one and thinks the Bible Salesman is nave. She decided that for the first time in her life she was face to face with real innocence. Ordinarily, she remains in forward: staring straight ahead. Malebranche, a seventeenth-century Catholic philosopher, believed that even the simplest of bodily movements was possible only because of the supernatural power that was constantly present. Mrs. Hopewells willingness to introduce the Freeman family around town is presented as surprisingin the world where this story takes place, class and status place people into a clear hierarchy. 51 Good Country People Essay Topic Ideas & Examples Manley, Manley, Manleyit might take Hulga a while to realize what a slippery trickster you are, but we're onto you from almost the moment you arrive on the page. Therefore, her mother is more caring and forgiving towards her arrogance. Examples Of Irony In Good Country People - 1238 Words | Cram In the short story "Good Country People," how do the names of the characters symbolically represent thematic contrasts in the story, and what exactly is Hulga's greatest handicap? These crucial discussions include the weather and Mrs. Freemans daughters. O'Connor further reinforces her view of Mrs. Freeman as a manipulator of Mrs. Hopewell by giving her, Mrs. Freeman, attributes which parallel those of Manley Pointer. At the instant, she demands him to attach the artificial leg back to her leg and tries to reach it but he pushes it away. Hulgas heart condition and artificial leg have dominated her life: instead of travelling the world and learning, she is trapped at homeand yet she seems to wallow in her misery, rather than trying to do anything to change her situation. Moreover, Manleys revealing of the hollow Bible is the main symbol of appearance versus reality. Hulga is alone and misses her artificial leg. Their kiss Hulga's first is used by O'Connor to indicate that Hulga's plan may not go as smoothly as she imagines. Where was Flannery O'Connor born? What did Hulga/Joy and Manley Pointer have in common? : Hulga, Manly Pointer, "Good Country People": Discussion Questions, AP Language Midterm Exam (Literary Terms/Devi, The Language of Composition: Reading, Writing, Rhetoric, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses, Literature and Composition: Reading, Writing,Thinking, Carol Jago, Lawrence Scanlon, Renee H. Shea, Robin Dissin Aufses. He told her that he was just a poor country boy and that he had a heart condition that might kill him soon. To her, "good country people are the salt of the earth." As Manley Pointers reality is revealed when his Bible turns out to be a box for obscene items, Connor weaves a playful irony to depict the reality of devoted religious sinners. I think juxtaposition between nostalgia of the past and reality are the forces pulling on grandmother. Accordingly, they think and hope that their lifestyle in the world will lead them well and that they live in a way that is moral and better for them. Therefore, the style becomes complex and philosophic. "And I'll tell you another thing," Pointer says, "You ain't so smart. Hulga, meanwhile, naturally scorns the Bible Salesman at first, but then feels a sudden burst of emotion when it seems like someone else might share her same heart condition. In Hulga's case, despite her advanced academic degrees, she is unable to see what is bad, and her mother's stereotyping perspective proves to be equally misleading and false. "Their conversation . Joy lost her leg at the age of 10 during a hunting accident and she wears an artificial leg. He also carries his briefcase along with him. Ex. Next is a group she identifies as good country people. These people are poorer than landowners like Mrs. Hopewell and her daughter Hulga, as well as less educated. Complete your free account to request a guide. Hulga imagines that she is the one to seduce Manley to shed his religious shell and enter a freer world. This illusion is induced in her mind first by her mother and then by Manley Pointer. As Hulga makes eggs, her mother wonders what she said to the Bible salesman who visited the day before. Some characters consider themselves superior to others while others do not recognize where they stand in life. Likewise, the experienced and independent Mrs. Hopewell is blind to see the antagonism of Mrs. Freeman for herself. The second and most significant setting is the barn where the climax of Hulgas life occurs. His religious beliefs are as hollow as the hollow Bible he has. Hulga is outraged to discover that the "proof of love" demanded by Pointer is that she show him where her wooden leg joins her body; Hulga is "as sensitive about her artificial leg as a peacock is about his tail." Also, she removes it once and puts it back asking Manley to remove it himself. Hulga is punished for her act of faith, unfortunately as the Bible Salesman is not as innocent as Hulga believes. Good Country People Summary & Analysis | LitCharts More books than SparkNotes. Also like Hulga, OConnor was well educated and brilliant, but living in a relatively uneducated Southern environment. This description of Mrs. Freeman introduces, the idea that this story takes place in a world full of easy clichs and meaningless platitudes. Similarly, Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell think of Manley Pointer as a simple and good man who cannot harm Hulga in any way. However, in the end, he is the one who fools her and leaves her helpless. "Good country people" refers to those whom Mrs. Hopewell sees as simple and moral. After dinner, Manley overstayed his welcome telling Mrs. Hopewell about his poor family for two hours. However, when Manley removes her spectacle in the barn, she surrenders to his vision of life. Hulga's conscious assumption that there was nothing behind the surface reality which we see around us is a far cry from the "truth" that she now cites in Malebranche's philosophy. Joy suggests that they can be at ease in the barn. However, in order for Hulga to progress beyond her present state, it is necessary for her to realize that "God turned to foolishness the 'wisdom' of this world" (I Corinthians 1:20). Why did Flannery O'Connor choose an onion as the closing image in the story "Good Country People"? Read the excerpt from "Good Country People." Mrs. Hopewell liked to She misjudges Manley Pointer for his goodness who turns out to be a fraud person. She remembers their conversation from the evening before, during which she lied to him and said she was only seventeen years old, and he told her he thought she was real sweet. They connected about the fact that they both might die soon from a heart condition, and he invites her on a picnic for the next day. Now he has been working for Mrs. Hopewell for the last four years. What is the conclusion of "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor? Black Humor In Flannery O Connor's Good Country People In supper, Mr. Pointer discusses his family and his eagerness to help people. What are the character traits of Joy-Hulga in "Good Country People"? The Freemans have two daughters Carramae and Glynese who are always portrayed as good ladies by Mrs. Freeman and are well liked by Mrs. Hopewell. Hulga, who generally takes such a rational-minded view of the world, is touchy at any mention of her artificial leg. bookmarked pages associated with this title. "The Displaced Person", Next However, the conversation turns to Mr. Pointer and upon questioning, Joy smashes into her room. She has a heart illness, as well as a wooden leg that she wears since childhood when she was shot in a hunting accident. Mrs. Hopewell thinks that Hulga's wearing "a six-year-old skirt and a yellow sweat shirt with a faded cowboy on a horse embossed on it" is idiotic, proof that despite Hulga's Ph.D. and her name change, she is "still a child.". 3. Incomplete Families: "The Drover's Wife," "The Chosen Vessel," and "Good Country People" She is clearly bothered by his question, and he drops the subject. The story Good Country People is a compact and beautiful piece of work that materializes her statement by making it unique and interesting. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Eventually, Mrs. Hopewell brings up the Bible salesman, and Mrs. Freeman mentions that she saw him leave; clearly, she saw him talking to Hulga as well. Good Country People 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. Mrs. Hopewell's analysis of Pointer, "He was so simple . . Teachers and parents! O'Connor's account of Hulga's reaction is worth examining in detail since it stresses the fact that Hulga's decision to surrender the leg is essentially an intellectual one: She sat staring at him. Morality In Flannery O Connor's Good Country People Her unwillingness to associate herself with those around her has made Hulga a very unlikeable person. Joy is thirty-two and is quite arrogant and self-willed. She has her division of people into two classes i.e. He did not succeed in altering his religious thoughts but successfully managed to get some time with her. The story is mainly ironic about the natures of good country people. They meet at the times of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although the Hopewells consider him as a simple, unintelligent, and inferior person but still he manages to gain their attention and fool them, quite ironic. He still refuses to give her her leg back; instead, he slams it inside his valise and climbs down the ladder, abandoning her in the loft. This is the symbol of her irrational thoughts and her crippled soul. . Good country people are the salt of the earth!. It is a small, remote, and rural place. What is Manley Pointer's motive for humiliating Hulga? Oh, Manley Pointer. In "Good Country People," how does Hulga feel about her wooden leg. She does not want to go to Florida. In the opening of the story, Mrs. Freemans face is compared to a truck, specifically with regard to the action of her eyes: Her eyes never swerved to left or right but turned as the story turned as if they followed a yellow line down the center of it. This aggressive gaze is referenced again at the end of the story as she and Mrs. Hopewell watch Manley walk away after abandoning Hulga in the loft: her gaze drove forward. Manley, also believe by Mrs. Hopewell to come from good country people, has eyes that are described violently as he is distracted by Hulgas disconnected wooden leg: Every now and then the boy, his eyes like two steel spikes, would glance behind him where the leg stood.. Hulga realizes she is not as smart as she thinks she is and gains life experience; Manly Pointer leaves with her leg, Mrs. Hopewell is still oblivious, etc. The Bible Salesman now starts acting strange and possessive, as it becomes more apparent that he is a kind of collectorof both love confessions and of other peoples most intimate possessions. When Mrs. Hopewell reads one of her daughters science books, the words worked on Mrs. Hopewell like some evil incantation in gibberish. She tells Manley that she doesnt believe in God. Hulga is completely unprepared for any kind of romantic date, and immediately assumes the worstthat the Bible Salesman wont show up. Through the encounter with the bible salesman, what does Hulga learn about herself and other people? What is the purpose of the last two paragraphs and explain how it contributes to the story's themes. It also means that she seems more sensible and near to reality than the other ladies in the story. He said that he was not a good match for an intellectual like her. Her fake leg also denotes her crippled identity that is in a confusion of nothingness and superiority complex. "Flannery O'Connors Stories Good Country People Summary and Analysis". Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Mr. Freeman was a good farmer but that his wife was the nosiest woman ever to walk the earth. Throw a missing leg into . Sometimes, Hulga, Mrs. Freeman, and Mrs. Hopewell have really tough discussions on different topics. In "Good Country People," how does O'Connor use situational irony to show the motivations of the characters? However. China in 1989 Gather information from resources such as history books and print out on-line encyclopedias. Mrs. Hopewell owns a farm in rural Georgia which she runs with the assistance of her tenants, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman. Accompanied by male porters, Peck attempted to climb the mountain, but howling winds and treacherous conditions thwarted the men and (she, her). In fact, Mrs. Hopewell would probably sum up her inability to understand her daughter-with-a-Ph.D. by saying, "She's brilliant, but she doesn't have a grain of sense." Mrs. Hopewell is jealous of the romantic success of Mrs. Freemans daughters. She thinks that she has turned him to think about deeper perspectives of the world and live a freer life. (including. She thought that she was savvy and saw through to nothing, perceiving the hypocrisy inherent in most perfect Christians, but the Bible Salesman mocks her for being surprised by his sinful behavior, as if believing that he might be genuinely religious was nave and childish on her part. She sends Joy to school and makes her a knowledgeable person. He marvels at it and it seems as if he just wants to learn how to take it on and off. Manley finds confusion in Hulgas thoughts about God and nothingness and he uses her in this way. On the other hand, if she did not believe in goodness, she would not have felt betrayed by his fraud. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'litpriest_com-box-4','ezslot_4',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-box-4-0');However, Hulga does not tolerate interference in her life; she does not want to be pleasant even for a while. So, she cannot fulfill her dream of living away due to her condition and is forced to live among the two ladies Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Hopewell. What is the three-step pattern of an O'Connor story, and how is this pattern seen in "Good Country People"? Connor sets up a conflicting argument between the staunch believers and disbelievers of Christianity. It was written within just four days and it turned out to be one of her most celebrated works. Further, he inquires about her wooden leg where it joins her leg and seems quite interested in it but she does not respond actively. Mrs. Hopewell is embarrassed and angry about her daughter's behavior, but she knows that she must ultimately accept it because of the hunting accident which cost Joy her leg when she was ten. Mrs. Freeman is Mrs. Hopewells employee and tenant for about four years. In Good Country People, Mrs. Hopewell sees the people of her world as falling into a clear hierarchy. In naming the characters, OConnor uses symbols according to their true features. Similarly, Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell think of Manley Pointer as a simple and good man who cannot harm Hulga in any way. but I guess the world would be better off if we were all that simple." However, her illusion is shattered by the fraud of Manley who removes her wooden leg leaving her useless. In "Good Country People," why is it significant that Mrs. Hopewell's daughter has two names? The chasm between the two women is even further deepened by Mrs. Hopewell's attitude toward the Freeman girls as opposed to her attitude toward Hulga. Also, every person has a different approach to life. The name Pointer (manly), not his real name, functions as a semi-obscene pun on one level, and it comes to point out, on another level, the depths to which humanity might descend if it follows only its "manly" nature. As Hulga is a professor in philosophy, she considers herself unique and qualified and others as illiterate fools. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Moreover, through the use of third-person omniscient narrative, the author judges the standard for good qualities and good people, therefore, elevating the importance of the title Good Country People. At first appearance, the Bible Salesman seems earnest and simple-natured. -Louis XIV. As Hulga thinks that she is a believer in nothingness, Manley is her metaphoric nothingness. . Hulga prefers to act just as miserable as she feels, valuing authenticity over a cheery attitude. She thinks that her way of life would ultimately turn out to be better for herself and others. She feeds into Mrs. Hopewells own ego by agreeing with whatever her employer says, while also building up her own self-image as someone both polite and wise. She has been working for Mrs. Hopewell for four years, and the two women often converse over breakfast in the Hopewells kitchen. Having made her commitment to Pointer, Hulga allows herself to indulge in a fantasy in which "she would run away with him and that every night he would take the leg off and every morning put it back on again." On his entrance in the story, his main purpose is to mock Mrs. Hopewells superior status. He is a complete deception and plays with other people also. Undesirable personality The Bible Salesman seems able to read Mrs. Hopewells hypocrisy right away, and plays into her clichd idea of good country people, using a (possibly invented) farm-country heritage to indicate that he is good-natured, simply, and sincere. She is also a single mother and supposedly paid for her daughters education throughout her educational career. But, significantly, Mrs. Hopewell cannot reconcile herself to a daughter who is "different," despite the fact that Mrs. Hopewell can sound as though she has an all-accepting, catholic compassion. When the Grandmother remembers an old plantation that she thinks used to be in the area they are traveling, Bailey does not want to take a detour to go find it. Manley is surprised to see that Joy can climb the ladder in the barn. Joy looks helplessly at him going away and is quite upset.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'litpriest_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',112,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-leader-1-0'); Both Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman observe him come out of the woods and lead towards the road. Mrs. Hopewell thinks of him as such a simple and pure man who might be selling Bibles to the black lot where he is heading. . As young Pointer is leaving, he arranges to meet Hulga the following day, and the banal conversation between the two of them clearly illustrates Hulga's naivet. Mrs. Hopewell champions these people as the salt, The way characters understand other characters in Good Country People is often the opposite of how these characters truly are. In the beginning, Joy thinks of herself as an extremely educated person whose mental level is above her surrounding peoples thinking. -Graham S. Mrs. Freeman agrees with Mrs. Hopewells assessment of her employees helpfulness without a hint of humility. Similarly, Joy Hopewell changes her name to Hulga but despite that Mrs. Hopewell still calls her Joy, only because she chooses this name for her. In "Good Country People," does Mrs. Hopewell's character explain her daughter's character in any way? Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Mrs. Hopewell has a high opinion of herself and is happy to congratulate herself on good decisions, such as putting Mrs. Freemans nosiness to good use. Also, his motivation to get others essentials that have no use for him reveals his superficial useless nature. She is used to reading a lot and prefers to live in isolation. How is "Good Country People"related to Marxist criticism? When they reach the edge of the woods, he kisses her; she has never been kissed before and is not particularly impressed. Subconsciously, she deeply desires something to which she might surrender herself, as she later does to Pointer's advances. A short story Good Country People is a striking example of a Southern Gothic literature. Joy develops superiority over the only two women in her life Mrs. Freeman and her mother and it leaves her vulnerable to the dodges of the people outside. Hulga is a lonely girl who does not like the company of people. She hopes to bring the Bible Salesman out of the ignorance that she sees in Christianity and into a broader understanding of the worldone in which enlightenment is the equivalent of being saved, and ignorance of being damned.. As Pointer is leaving the barn loft with Hulga's wooden leg, he further disillusions Hulga by telling her that he has obtained a number of interesting things from other people, including a glass eye, in the same way that he took Hulga's leg. As he creates similarities between his and Joys illness and makes her feel that he is indeed a simple man, she believes in everything he says. answer choices Savannah, Georgia Boston, Mass. I know I never could.". Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. But this characterization is important, since Mrs. Hopewell believes the Freemans to be good country people. Later, she decides that Manley must also come from good country people, which turns out to be a gross misconception. Pointer's trunk Also, Hulga is a character who has deep philosophical thoughts and abstract ideas. good and trash. Mrs. Hopewell had no bad qualities of her own but she was able to use other people's in such a constructive way . Instead, he opens his valise to reveal that there are only two Bibles inside, and that they are fake; they open to reveal a flask of whiskey, a pack of cards, and some medicine in a small blue box. Furthermore, she is quite haughty and grumpy and is not interested in any kind of happiness in life. Southern Gothic. Even though Hulga does not like or respect the Freemans, she relies on them to distract her mothers attention from her. Their relationship seems to be moving towards the possibility of love in the beginning, but they part in a huge disillusionment later on. Why do you think Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Hopewell are introduced before Hulga? However, her mother still calls her Joy out of her love for her daughter and considers her as a child. Ironically, she detests the company of both of them because they are not well educated like her. Manley has been waiting for her behind a bush across the street, and as they walk toward the woods, he immediately asks her about her wooden leg. He removes her glasses but she does not seem to notice. The valise, which seemed to contain Bibles, in fact contains traditional sinful objectsalcohol, pornography, and condoms. They also talk about different subjects like damnation, nothingness, God and so on. However, she is reluctant to tell them about her present date walk with him. document.write(new Date().getFullYear());Lit Priest, Literary Devices used in Good Country People, As OConnor says, A story is a way to say something that cant be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is.. What hints are there to suggest that she's really just hiding the facade of her education and intelligence? The loss of Hulga's glasses symbolically marks her total loss of perception, and she begins to return his kisses, "kissing him again and again as if she were trying to draw all the breath out of him." In "Good Country People," what did Hulga hope to steal from Pointer when he stole her leg and glasses? He didnt want to go to college, he just wanted to sell Bibles. 4. It questions the idea of goodness, what are the standards for good qualities and why are some people considered good or bad. Mrs. Hopewell would like to brag about her daughter, as she can brag about Mrs. Freeman's daughters, but bragging about Hulga is next to impossible. He breaks down Joys self-protection and makes her accept his nature and yearn for his love. I'm as good as you any day in the week.". She used to be insecure about her wooden leg, but now she reveres it as her defining quality, besides her education. What makes the title "Good Country People" ironic? Develop an analogy, an extended comparison of two things that have certain similarities, to explain your personal view of one of the following concepts: heaven, love, home, loss, marriage, wealth. To explain, the sincere and fair main characters of the story, Mrs. Hopewell and Hulga fall in the trap of the people who mask themselves as good people. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Education Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Joy nicknames her Glycerin that predicts the lightness of her and her sisters character. He is familiar with all the slick tricks used by the typical door-to-door salesman, and he also has a second sense which enables him to take advantage of Mrs. Hopewell even though she is not interested in entertaining a salesman of any description. Explain. Consequently, she falls into that trap. However, she is dependent upon her mother due to her physical illness. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. The other day, Mr. Pointer called at their house. She is a thirty-two years old lady with a degree in philosophy. How does the grandmother talk Bailey into going to the plantation? On the contrary, Mrs. Freeman is depicted as a fairly shrewd woman who is capable of "using" Mrs. Hopewell's blindness to reality, just as Manley Pointer will later "use" Hulga's blindness to reality for his own selfish advantage. Hulga's own attitude toward the two Freeman girls is one of repulsion. Does Hulga deserve her fate in the short story "Good Country People"? He withdraws Hulgas leg and keeps it aside. Although Hulga tries to continue her "indoctrination" of the youth by explaining that she is "one of those people who have seen through to nothing," Pointer ignores her comments and continues to woo her, kissing her passionately and insisting that she tell him that she loves him. Joyce, Meghan. their daughters and the weather. He pretends to be entering her house accidentally but after meeting Hulga, he seduces her within no time. Mrs. Freeman is also mainly described according to her views on goodness, but one can get the idea that even her views are flawed. Likewise, Joys encounter with Manley Pointer is another instance of appearance and reality distinction.
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