O'Connor uses the final paragraphs of the story to make clear the parallel which she established earlier between Hulga and her mother. On the other hand, if she did not believe in goodness, she would not have felt betrayed by his fraud. Sometimes, Hulga, Mrs. Freeman, and Mrs. Hopewell have really tough discussions on different topics. In this respect, OConnor represents a miniature of the everyday social life. He then produces a hollowed-out Bible containing a bottle of whiskey, sex cards, and some condoms. Explain. What do you think of Hulga's conviction that intelligence and education are incompatible with religious beliefs? Through the use of playful irony, the writer crafts a realistic picture of a society where there are always two sides to a coin. Connor sets up a conflicting argument between the staunch believers and disbelievers of Christianity. To make things worse, he kisses Joy, opens up his Bible which is hollow inside. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. "And I'll tell you another thing," Pointer says, "You ain't so smart. Why? On the contrary, the truth lies inside oneself. At first appearance, the Bible Salesman seems earnest and simple-natured. She reluctantly agrees to his demands because she does not want to lose what he is offering. On the contrary, he is the most deceptive and heartless person who deceives other people also. She convinces herself that "events of significance" with "profound implications" have occurred. 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. They enter a barn to sit down, and climb up a ladder to the loft. However, her mother calls her senseless and impractical. Joy/Hulga is defiant and that ends up leaving her worse off because she goes with Manly Pointer and he leaves her. What hints are there to suggest that she's really just hiding the facade of her education and intelligence? Likewise, Mrs. Hopewell has no reverence or love for her religion or Bible and she doesnt care about such things. Hulga is the protagonist of the story Good Country People. Why does Manley Pointer refer to Christians as Chrustians in "Good Country People"? She does not want to go to Florida. For instance, OConnors interpretation is hugely interwoven with a meaningful expression of different aspects of life. Hulga, Mrs. Hopewells daughter, lumbers around the house and stomps into the kitchen one morning while the two women talk. She completely blinds herself to the approval of the reality of things and sways in his love. had been of that kind," she says. The people judge a person to be good or bad only because of ones external factors. She also changed her name from Joy to Hulga when she was in college at twenty-one. Carramae is Mrs. Freemans daughter who is fifteen years old. Hulgas view of the world and the people is completely different from what Manley makes of her. Then Manley packs up his things along with Joys wooden leg in his briefcase and throws it down. eNotes' "Good Country People" Overview Quiz covers important questions from Flannery O'Connor's short story, including what happens to Joy, and the question of Manley Pointer's background. What does Mrs. Hopewell mean by the phrase "good country people"? Joy suggests that they can be at ease in the barn. 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. On the other hand, Mrs. Freeman loves calling her by the name Hulga, because she relishes hearing ugly things. Good Country People Lyrics Besides the neutral expression that she wore when she was alone, Mrs. Freeman had two others, forward and reverse, that she used for all her human dealings. This supernatural power metaphorically functioned as the strings between the puppet master (the mind) and the puppet (the body). Choose the correct pronoun from those shown in parentheses. She is also a single mother and supposedly paid for her daughters education throughout her educational career. Mrs. Hopewell treats her like a small child because she thinks that Joy has seen enough illnesses in her life. I know I never could.". He said that he was not a good match for an intellectual like her. In-depth explanations of Good Country People's themes. After dinner, Manley overstayed his welcome telling Mrs. Hopewell about his poor family for two hours. Now, Mrs. Hopewell wonders what was said between her daughter and Manley as Mrs. Freeman prattles on about her daughters. For example, Mrs. Hopewell is a respected lady and a landowner. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We can undoubtedly say that the whole story revolves around the theme of the distinction between false expression and the truth of a character. Hulga states outright that she still sees herself as seeing through all of lifes illusions (like romantic love), in contrast with the Bible Salesman, whom she still thinks is simple and nave. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. And the protagonist, Hulga, is condescending toward any religious sentiment. Southern Gothic. By contrast, Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman are happy to gossip. Joy calls her Caramel, however, it is not mentioned whether she has any interaction with her. In "Good Country People," how does O'Connor use situational irony to show the motivations of the characters? For him, existence is making others uncomfortable and inferior to feel superiority himself. He also carries his briefcase along with him. This is the symbol of her irrational thoughts and her crippled soul. In "Good Country People," what did Hulga hope to steal from Pointer when he stole her leg and glasses? . New York City, New York St. Paul, Minnesota Question 2 30 seconds Q. The shallowness of daily life and the pointless conversations between Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman cause her constant annoyance. However, Hulga is irritated by the platitudes of the other ladies. To change one's name from "Joy" to "Hulga," according to Mrs. Hopewell, was an act of ridiculously immature rebellion. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Some characters consider themselves superior to others while others do not recognize where they stand in life. Hulgas deformity, her missing leg, has shaped her as a character. To her, "good country people are the salt of the earth." 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. I think juxtaposition between nostalgia of the past and reality are the forces pulling on grandmother. What is the climax of the story "Good Country People" by Flannery O' Connor? He does not care about anyone else. . Now, however, we see that Hulga unconsciously wants to believe that there is a power greater than herself. Good Country People Summary & Analysis Next Themes Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis The story begins with a description of Mrs. Freeman, a woman working on a farm in rural Georgia. Everything you need for every book you read. She is a practical and hardworking lady and despite her upper social standing, she works with her workers in the field and at home. Mrs. Hopewell reluctantly invites him for supper as she finds in him a person who resembles Joy due to his heart disease. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. How does the grandmother talk Bailey into going to the plantation? 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. She does not make a distinction between good and bad people based on their character but judges them on the basis of their class. His personality resembles that of the hollow Bible because his exterior is so simple and pure but there is nothing inside. His religious beliefs are as hollow as the hollow Bible he has. Mrs. Hopewell is jealous of the romantic success of Mrs. Freemans daughters. The Question and Answer section for Flannery O'Connors Stories is a great For instance, both Mrs. Freeman and Manley Pointer are seen as "good country people" by Mrs. Hopewell; both have a morbid interest in Hulga's wooden leg; both of them allow their "victims" to form an erroneous view of "good country people"; and finally, both Pointer and Mrs. Freeman are described as having steely eyes capable of penetrating Hulga's facade. Her major flaw is her blindness towards the reality of people. Nor does she love to enjoy nature. As Hulga is a professor in philosophy, she considers herself unique and qualified and others as illiterate fools. In "Good Country People," why is it significant that Mrs. Hopewell's daughter has two names? She has named her daughter Joy because she is her only happiness in the world. This misperception leads them to assume that the world is much simpler than it actually is. For example, Mrs. Hopewell is always hopeful about life. However, she has a loving mother to care for. For instance, it has a different meaning for every character and similar is the reality of life. This is because she is looked down upon by Mrs. Hopewell. Hulga does not like this idea but he confesses that this is the thing that he likes in her because this distinguishes her unique nature. Having reached the barn, the two climb into the loft, where Pointer actively begins to take control. . . This shows the huge contrast between reality and appearance of a person. her wooden leg, to make her helpless and useless. It questions the idea of goodness, what are the standards for good qualities and why are some people considered good or bad. 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. their daughters and the weather. 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. The way the content is organized and presented is seamlessly smooth, innovative, and comprehensive." Get LitCharts A + The daughter of Mrs. Hopewell, Hulga is intelligent, intellectual, and cynical. It seems odd that the story, whose focus is Hulga and her wooden leg, begins with a description of Mrs. Freeman and her interactions with Mrs. Hopewell. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Removing #book# Through the use of this narrative, she highlights the importance of the main characters and expects the readers to focus on these characters mainly. One of the main flaws in Good Country People is the hypocrisy of humans. Likewise, Hulga is named Joy by her mother as she wants her to be happy and fresh. Although she is arrogant, her mother cares for her and wants her to stay active and beautiful. Also, every person has a different approach to life. 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. . 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. Once again, the thirty-two-year-old Hulga seems like a moody teenager. Furthermore, she is quite haughty and grumpy and is not interested in any kind of happiness in life. Just like the hollow Bible, Manleys religious beliefs are also hollow and fake. superior to everyone. She is a grumpy person who does not care for what others say or they are. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. (including. For example, Manley Pointer is manly as he is a sinful human being who is selfish for his means. However, before running away, he tells Hulga that Manley is a big believer in nothingness, even more than Hulga and she is tricked. The truth of life is created by ones thoughts, not by some external reality. However, her foil, Joy considers life as a meaningless existence. 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.. Her vulnerable soul can be determined first from the weakness of her heart, as she is not wise and experienced, and secondly, from her fake leg, as she has no strong standing in the world of reality. Mrs. Hopewell is always hopeful about life and thinks that her approach towards life will lead her well. In contrast, Mrs. Hopewell is deeply ashamed of Hulga's name, the way she dresses, and her behavior. However, Manleys personality is revealed at the end when he takes away Hulgas most important part (her leg) just like tricking her dear feelings. He withdraws Hulgas leg and keeps it aside. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. His former record in farming is good and is approved by his last owner. She admires her daughters before Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell because Mrs. Freeman likes to make Hulga feel inferior and ordinary. Also, his motivation to get others essentials that have no use for him reveals his superficial useless nature.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'litpriest_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); The story Good Country People expresses Connors religious argument about how Christianity is abused by many good Christians. Likewise, the experienced and independent Mrs. Hopewell is blind to see the antagonism of Mrs. Freeman for herself. The Bible Salesman, who claims to be devout, turns out to be hiding alcohol, condoms, and pornography inside a hollowed-out Bible. On Saturday morning, Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman inquire Hulga about her conversation with Manley the day before. However, when she finds attention from Mr. Manley, her personality shifts towards agreeableness and she softens her limits. answer choices Savannah, Georgia Boston, Mass. In the story, she is the most authentic source for truth and reality. Is it significant that the story begins and ends with Mrs. Freeman? The title Good Country People is an irony for the contrasting natures of the characters in the story. Similar is the case with the characters of Good Country People. He says that his disbelief in any religion is bigger than her disapproval of religious institutions and runs away. She used to be insecure about her wooden leg, but now she reveres it as her defining quality, besides her education. 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. Mrs. Hopewell creates her reality and follows it accordingly. Mrs. Freeman is also mainly described according to her views on goodness, but one can get the idea that even her views are flawed. Then he kisses Joy while walking in the woods but she ignores the act. He takes obscene playing cards, alcohol, and prophylactics out of the book. 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. As long as any of the characters begins judgment about others in the story, the tone changes to playful and comic. He removes her glasses but she does not seem to notice.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'litpriest_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',111,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Furthermore, Manley professes his love to Joy and asks her to repeat the same statement to him but she is reluctant at first and gets critical about the idea of love and then says that she is in love with him. What is the resolution? From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Hulga is in some ways similar to OConnor herself, who was diagnosed with lupus and not expected to live past middle age. Their major task is to talk in platitudes but Joy has more abstract and philosophic ideas.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'litpriest_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-leader-2-0'); She has also lost one leg in a hunting accident when she was ten. She has a face structure that resembles a heavy truck. She also calls Hulga by her proper name when her mother is out of sight. They meet at the times of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Both women are individuals who simplistically believe that what is wanted can be had although each of them is, in her own way, blind to the world as it really exists. On his way down, he calls to her that she is not so much smarter than him; he doesnt believe in God, either. However, the conversation turns to Mr. Pointer and upon questioning, Joy smashes into her room. Now he has been working for Mrs. Hopewell for the last four years. 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. Hulga, however, is wrong, and even O'Connor's color imagery which is inserted as Hulga and Pointer make their way to the old barn (likened at one point to a train which they fear may "slide away") contributes to the impression that Hulga may have met her match. Hulga has a weak heart and probably does not have long to live, which is why she lives at home. Mr. Freeman is a farmer and tenant of Mrs. Hopewell. OConnor also depicts a class conflict in her story Good Country People. Mrs. Freeman has good relations with all of them. He is a complete deception and plays with other people also. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. She hisses, "You're a fine Christian! 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. She also thinks about her meeting with the salesman at ten and their previous days conversation. Good country people. 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. However, she does complain about her attitude and sadness but sympathizes with her physical condition and tries to please her in every way. Manley finds confusion in Hulgas thoughts about God and nothingness and he uses her in this way. He does not want a church marriage like Lyman but prefers an ordinary one. 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. However, her classification is based on the level of education which makes it difficult for her to cope with the reality of life. 2. She published the story in June 1955 in her book; A Good Man is Hard to Find. Finally, Hulga utters, "Yes, yes," and Pointer then insists that she prove it. His comment, "People don't like to fool with country people like me," touches a hidden switch in Mrs. Hopewell, and she responds with a barrage of platitudes concerning good country people and the world's lack of sufficient numbers of that breed. In this short story, Connor ironically depicts the contradictory natures of the characters of the discussed Southern society. Being religious, OConnor represents the eroded beliefs of people in the society who carry out shameful deeds under the cover of religion. From Hulga's point of view, the surrender of her leg was an intellectual decision; consequently, the destruction of her faith in the power of her own intellect can come only through betrayal by the one whom she rationally decided to believe in, to have faith in. Instant downloads of all 1725 LitChart PDFs In supper, Mr. Pointer discusses his family and his eagerness to help people. They change according to the need of the time. 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. OConnor depicts the society that bestows false praises upon its members of intelligence or prestige. At the same time, she considers herself above the surrounding people. She has named her daughter Joy because she is her only happiness in the world. For example, Mrs. Hopewell, she is so nave, and she sees the absolute best in people. O'Connor enlightens the reader they may often be fooled directly by an individual who is pursuing a separate identity. This shows that her approach to life is wrong. However, when Manley removes her spectacle in the barn, she surrenders to his vision of life. However, her illusion is shattered by the fraud of Manley who removes her wooden leg leaving her useless. 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. The story is mainly ironic about the natures of good country people. By living such an intellectual life, Hulga has to some extent cut herself off from the natural world, reaffirming that, for all her knowledge of philosophy, she is missing out on many aspects of life. Analyze the relationship between Mrs. Hopewell and Joy in "Good Country People." 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. He has been the savvy manipulator all along (the exact opposite of a good country boy), whereas Hulga thought she was the one seducing him. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. In order to allow the reader to develop a degree of genuine sympathy for Hulga, O'Connor places her in an environment which would appall any sensitive person. She is a believer in nothingness. This is because the doctors have advised her to take great care of her daughter as with the best of care, Joy might live to see forty-five. While leaving the house, he sees Hulga outside who joins him towards the door and he manages to have some talk with her before leaving. Written in the mid-1950s, this short story features an uncharacteristically strong female character. The easygoing chatter between Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman contrasts with Hulgas sense of seriousness about life. (including. 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 illusion is induced in her mind first by her mother and then by Manley Pointer. Then after supper, Mrs. Hopewell excuses him to make him end the meeting. Struggling with distance learning? What does this say about Hulga's philosophy? 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. This is because the doctors have advised her to take great care of her daughter as with the best of care, Joy might live to see forty-five. The valise, which seemed to contain Bibles, in fact contains traditional sinful objectsalcohol, pornography, and condoms. She has a heart illness, as well as a wooden leg that she wears since childhood when she was shot in a hunting accident. She used black humor mixed with some of her religious beliefs, lots of irony, and extreme situations. Joy is an atheist and has a Ph.D. in philosophy but seems non-sensible to her mother, and in an act of rebellion against her mother, Joy changed her name to "Hulga," the ugliest name Mrs. Hopewell can imagine. She wakes up early in the morning and is joined by Mrs. Freeman in the kitchen. This mention of a heart disease, paralleling Hulga's heart trouble, has a marked effect on Mrs. Hopewell, and she invites him to stay for dinner even though she is "sorry the instant she heard herself say it." Teachers and parents! I'm as good as you any day in the week.". Good Country People Literary Analysis Flannery O'Connor's dismissal of the outside world allows you to understand more of the symbolic quality of all of the active characters. For instance, she spends most of her time reading and goes for a walk occasionally. However, Mrs. Freeman is not the one that someone would tolerate for a longer time but Mrs. Hopewell considers her good; therefore, she has to be patient towards her at any cost. . It is descriptive because mostly the main characters are discussed by Mrs. Hopewell as she describes Joys history and complains about her attitude. Again the present morning in the story, Joy cooks her breakfast in the kitchen while Mrs. Freeman is busy praising her daughters. Likewise, in the latter part of the story, she is left completely helpless by the salesmans fraud and her superiority and intelligence are smashed to the ground. His only religion is his desires. Does the story have any admirable characters or heroes in the conventional sense? -Graham S. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Then the story shifts to the kitchen of Mrs. Hopewell. He arrived with a large valise, apparently lugging around Bibles to sell, and charmed Mrs. Hopewell with his simple-mindedness.