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. In a moment of seemingly immense insight, Hulga lashed out at her mother, yelling, "We are not our own light!" Their relationship seems to be moving towards the possibility of love in the beginning, but they part in a huge disillusionment later on. Similarly, there is a feeling of love in the relationship between Hulga and her mother also. For instance, OConnors interpretation is hugely interwoven with a meaningful expression of different aspects of life. She also thinks that Mrs. Freeman is a good person because she wants to believe it but Mrs. Freeman is a sadist. Most of the story is set in Mrs. Hopewells kitchen. The story Good Country People is a compact and beautiful piece of work that materializes her statement by making it unique and interesting. Mrs. Freeman is free to rule herself. Even the names she chooses for each character help her to establish their significance in the story. Mrs. Freeman responds, "Some can't be that simple . Reality vs. Illusion/Desire, 1. In different ways, they are all hypocrites, claiming to honor and to have higher moral standards than they actually do. The other day, Mr. Pointer called at their house. Everything you need for every book you read. Why does Hulga agree to meet with Manley Pointer? Manley packs up her wooden leg and his other possessions in his valise. However, her classification is based on the level of education which makes it difficult for her to cope with the reality of life. . She is popular among boys and is proposed to by a man Harvey Hill but there is no information about her acceptance. She is self-willed and grumpy. The hollow Bible presents the hollow and deceptive nature of Manley Pointer. By contrast, she judges dishonest or lazy poor people as trash. With these phrases, Mrs. Hopewell presents a clear hierarchy in how she views societyshe professes an admiration for good country people, but that admiration is essentially condescension, and part of why she praises them is because it reinforces her own sense of superiority. It questions the idea of goodness, what are the standards for good qualities and why are some people considered good or bad. Sometimes, Hulga, Mrs. Freeman, and Mrs. Hopewell have really tough discussions on different topics. Explain. Hulgas education is connected to her lack of faith in God, especially in the mind of her mother. When they reach the edge of the woods, he kisses her; she has never been kissed before and is not particularly impressed. Similarly, Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell think of Manley Pointer as a simple and good man who cannot harm Hulga in any way. This description of Mrs. Freeman introduces, the idea that this story takes place in a world full of easy clichs and meaningless platitudes. For all their self-righteousness and sense of superiority, Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Hopewell reveal themselves to be totally ignorant of the truth of the world around them. Hulga is so irritated by what she sees as inane small-talk that she chooses to hide in the bathroom instead of join in. However, she does complain about her attitude and sadness but sympathizes with her physical condition and tries to please her in every way. Although Pointer may seem an unlikely candidate for the role of grace-bringer, O'Connor, in commenting on the action of grace in her stories, has noted that "frequently it is an action in which the devil has been the unwilling instrument of grace.". However, she is advised by the doctor to stay in the care of her mother. Another reason for her mothers tolerance is that Joy Hopewell has a heart issue and will supposedly live for almost ten more years. Despite her job for the Hopewells, she does not let them rule her instincts and principles. As in O'Connor's story "A Good Man Is Hard to Find," a strangerdeceptively polite but ultimately evilintrudes upon a family with destructive consequences. had been of that kind," she says. 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. The color imagery associated with Pointer as he leaves (blue, with heaven and heavenly love; green, with charity and regeneration of the soul), coupled with the image of walking on the water, would appear to indicate that O'Connor wishes the reader to see Pointer as an instrument of God's grace for Hulga. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. To sum up, there is a misrepresentation of the title in the story that depicts its ironic nature. 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. Hulga is completely unprepared for any kind of romantic date, and immediately assumes the worstthat the Bible Salesman wont show up. She has a complex set of thoughts on religion as she confesses it to Manley Pointer that I told you I didnt believe in God. Hulga's own attitude toward the two Freeman girls is one of repulsion. Hulga is introduced as an angry-young-lady. Both of the characters whom Mrs. Hopewell describes as being good country people turn out not to fit that description at all. The excerpt is about Mrs Hopewell needing someone to walk over the fields with her. What do you think of Hulga's conviction that intelligence and education are incompatible with religious beliefs? China in 1989 Gather information from resources such as history books and print out on-line encyclopedias. For instance, she thinks of her daughter as a child which means that she keeps her under her command and does not let her live freely by herself. "The Enduring Chill" Summary and Analysis, "The Artificial Nigger" Summary and Analysis. 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. Manley then takes her leg away and opens up his Bible that is hollow inside consisting of playing cards, whiskey, and condoms. This shows the huge contrast between reality and appearance of a person. Similarly, the whole storyline is judgmental about the standard of good and wrong. They work on her farms and at her home. (including. Whereas she moves through everyday life protecting herself with arrogance and intellectual superiority, here she makes herself completely vulnerableand in that moment of vulnerability, she accesses a more spiritual state of being, something which Flannery OConnor might call grace. This is the one true act of authentic faith in the story, and even OConnors language in describing it echoes that of the Bible: Jesus says, whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.. At first appearance, the Bible Salesman seems earnest and simple-natured. What does "We are not our own light" mean? One of the main flaws in Good Country People is the hypocrisy of humans. She calls them "Glycerin" and "Caramel" (oily and sticky sweet). This misfortune is compounded by a doctor's opinion that Hulga will not live past forty because of a heart condition; furthermore, Hulga has been deprived of ever dancing and having what Mrs. Hopewell calls a "normal good time.". This elevation of what Mrs. Hopewell considers good country people is linked to the theme of disgust with the world in general, which is prevalent in many of OConnors stories. anywhere or introduce . He does not care about anyone else. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'litpriest_com-banner-1','ezslot_1',105,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-banner-1-0');However, Joy does not pay attention to him after greeting him. 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. Southern Gothic. For example, Mrs. Hopewell is always hopeful about life. Mrs. Hopewell watched from afar, but could not hear what is said. He is a complete deception and plays with other people also. He told her that he was just a poor country boy and that he had a heart condition that might kill him soon. 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. In addition to Hulga's wearing inappropriate clothes, her name change (from "Joy" to "Hulga") cut such a wound into Mrs. Hopewell that she will never entirely heal. Mrs. Hopewell thinks that girls should go to school and have a good time but Hulga has attained the ultimate educational degree, and yet education did not "bring her out"; privately, Mrs. Hopewell is glad that there is "no more excuse for [Hulga] to go to school again." However, in this illusion of nothingness, she does believe in good and bad. What is the climax of the story "Good Country People" by Flannery O' Connor? However, her illusion is shattered by the fraud of Manley who removes her wooden leg leaving her useless. Mrs. Hopewell would probably be pleased that her daughter was going on a date with such a nice boy, which is precisely why Hulga keeps it a secretshe doesnt want to give her mother any satisfaction. What makes the title "Good Country People" ironic? Therefore, the style becomes complex and philosophic. but it ain't held me back none. She has been working for Mrs. Hopewell for four years, and the two women often converse over breakfast in the Hopewells kitchen. This boy, with an instinct that came from beyond wisdom, had touched the truth about her. This story is divided into four rather distinct sections which help emphasize the relationships between the four central characters. However. This misperception leads them to assume that the world is much simpler than it actually is. When after a minute, she said in a hoarse high voice, "All right," it was like surrendering to him completely. She has believed that she was an iron-willed rationalist, as indicated by the underlined passage in one of her books that Mrs. Hopewell attempted to read. Throughout the dinner, Pointer stares at Hulga, who eats rapidly, clears the table, and leaves the room. Similarly, she realizes it to Mrs. Freeman at every point that Mrs. Hopewell is superior to her and she is nothing in front of Hopewell. Sometimes Mrs. Freeman also joins them in the debates. Mrs. Hopewell can't say, "My daughter is a philosopher." In the story, "Good Country People," there are many themes; however, the main theme is identity. The spectacles also denote different perspectives of the people in the story. 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. bookmarked pages associated with this title. She published the story in June 1955 in her book; A Good Man is Hard to Find. For instance, the eyeglass that Manley stole, Hulgas life incidents, her isolated life, the wooden leg, and the remote barn depict the gothic nature of the work. She has earned a degree in philosophy that made her further abstract and ideal. Irony in "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor The leg cannot be the sense of people's life as it is just a leg, and people should believe in something more real. His religious beliefs are as hollow as the hollow Bible he has. Ironically, she is dumped by one of those low minded people in the surrounding. Hulga has a weak heart and probably does not have long to live, which is why she lives at home. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. She has very few options in life and is always trapped in awkward situations that further heighten her irritation for the world. Complete your free account to request a guide. Although O'Connor uses the intellectual, or the pseudo-intellectual, in one of her novels and in seven of her short stories, Hulga is the only female in the bunch. In-depth explanations of Good Country People's themes. This depicts the psychological condition of Hulga who is trapped in such a rural area among her narrow-minded companions. Briefly explain its connection to European history from 1500 to 1800. GradeSaver, 12 July 2010 Web. because of pregnancy. her wooden leg, to make her helpless and useless. Hulga, then, by O'Connor's admission is "blind," and ironically, it is during one of Hulga's exchanges with her mother, while Hulga is attempting to reveal her mother's blindness to her (her lack of awareness), that Hulga fails; instead, she reveals a vast weakness in her own professedly atheistic views, laying her open later to Manley Pointer's attack. We know, of course, that Mrs. Freeman is no fool when it comes to manipulating. For her, her own identity remains fixed i.e. It is the same year OConnor wrote the story, therefore, one can assume that the place is somewhere in Georgia that is Connors home town. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Moreover, Manleys revealing of the hollow Bible is the main symbol of appearance versus reality. How does the grandmother talk Bailey into going to the plantation? Hulga makes eggs while her mother considers how she probably should not have earned a Ph.D. in philosophy, since it has not brought her any good. What did Hulga/Joy and Manley Pointer have in common? On the contrary, he is the most deceptive and heartless person who deceives other people also. Joy suggests that they can be at ease in the barn. She so resents her mothers phoniness that she causes her mother annoyance whenever possibleand acts very immature in the process. Even though the kiss causes an extra surge of adrenaline, like that which "enables one to carry a packed trunk out of a burning house," Hulga is now convinced that nothing exceptional happened and that everything is "a matter of the mind's control.". She is a believer in nothingness. Good country people. On the other hand, the style is also conversational because there are several discussions and dialogues among the story members i.e. In her world, status is defined not just by wealth or land, but also by social respectability, building a family, and acting out the status quowhich for a young woman means getting married and having children. In the last two stanzas of "Upon the Burning of Our House," Bradstreet compares heaven to a house. For instance, it has a different meaning for every character and similar is the reality of life. Joy suggests that they can be at ease in the barn. On the contrary, he is the most deceptive and heartless person who deceives other people also. 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. She thinks that she has turned him to think about deeper perspectives of the world and live a freer life. However, her foil, Joy considers life as a meaningless existence. He has also made her fall for him with his jokes and silly conversation. What religious values are in "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor? On the contrary, Mrs. Freeman never surrenders herself to being wrong. For instance, Hulga is irritant and moody due to the lack of care and love of a man. When he kisses her, she is pleased to discover that it is just a matter of the minds control. Before he tells her he loves her, her mind never stopped or lost itself for a second to her feelings. But operating in this way leaves her handicapped when she becomes vulnerable. As Hulga thinks that she is a believer in nothingness, Manley is her metaphoric nothingness. . However, she is dependent upon her mother due to her physical illness. OConnor also depicts a class conflict in her story Good Country People. There was nothing about her face or her round freezing-blue eyes to indicate that this had moved her; but she felt as if her heart had stopped and left her mind to pump her blood. In modern times, every person has some background story that is hidden from the world. Hulga has now undergone mortification, and Mrs. Hopewell appears to be facing a future revelation. Now, Mrs. Hopewell wonders what was said between her daughter and Manley as Mrs. Freeman prattles on about her daughters. century, class conflict was one of the major issues of English society. However, her mother still calls her Joy out of her love for her daughter and considers her as a child. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. In the story, Manley can be considered as a predator who aims at harming Hulga. . However, this type of attitude without any faith in God is represented as leading to her downfall, since once she lets Manley take off her leg, she becomes extremely vulnerable. As the story is structured in the Southern part of the state, some factors depict the south gothic nature of the short story. Ironically, she detests the company of both of them because they are not well educated like her. On the contrary, he was the one who has entrapped her by admiring her for being a courageous girl due to her artificial leg. Why were the Wakatsukis sent to Manzanar? Mrs. Hopewell wonders about her daughters encounter with Manley Pointer, the Bibles salesman. 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..
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