Therefore, she wears a wooden leg. . Why? Then after supper, Mrs. Hopewell excuses him to make him end the meeting. This supernatural power metaphorically functioned as the strings between the puppet master (the mind) and the puppet (the body). What do you think of Hulga's conviction that intelligence and education are incompatible with religious beliefs? . Then he kisses Joy while walking in the woods but she ignores the act. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. She also keeps Mrs. Freeman busy in her conversation to avoid her mothers investigation. In O'Connor's "Good Country People," why are the characters' names significant? Hulga's own attitude toward the two Freeman girls is one of repulsion. 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. However, Hulga is irritated by the platitudes of the other ladies. She was born Joy, and her mother refuses to call her by her legal name, Hulga, which she chose for its ugliness. But despite her class, she works hard like Mrs. Freeman. O'Connor's selection of a well-known biblical parallel ("He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it," Matthew 10:39) clearly depicts Hulga's rational surrender to Pointer and firmly underlines the significance of her rational decision within the context of the story. Is it significant that the story begins and ends with Mrs. Freeman? In the end, her education fails her badly in the class difference. While leaving the home, Pointer invites Joy for a picnic date the next evening, and she imagines seducing the innocent Bible salesman. Seeing this, Joy catches anger and calls him a hypocrite and a pretentious person who plays with religion. 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.. Hulga, Mrs. Hopewells daughter, lumbers around the house and stomps into the kitchen one morning while the two women talk. In this short story, Connor ironically depicts the contradictory natures of the characters of the discussed Southern society. She comes to Mrs. Hopewells living place every morning to help make breakfast. They also talk about different subjects like damnation, nothingness, God and so on. She is dodged by a lower class disguised Bible salesman. According to Mrs. Hopewell, she is one of good country people. Connor sets up a conflicting argument between the staunch believers and disbelievers of Christianity. On the contrary, he is the most deceptive and heartless person who deceives other people also. Hulga, who generally takes such a rational-minded view of the world, is touchy at any mention of her artificial leg. She also calls Hulga by her proper name when her mother is out of sight. This determines the superficiality of a seemingly pure mind and an intelligent soul who want to keep themselves away from the distractions of the physical world but in turn, fall into such distractions quite comfortably. The Bible Salesmans theft of Hulgas leg represents a desecration of her most private boundaries. His only religion is his desires. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. She is very quick to speak her mind, and takes pleasure in mocking her mother's religious beliefs. Hulga imagines that she is the one to seduce Manley to shed his religious shell and enter a freer world. He has also taken other peoples important things as his commodity. PDF downloads of all 1725 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. She also thinks that Mrs. Freeman is a good person because she wants to believe it but Mrs. Freeman is a sadist. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Hulga's eyes, she says, are "icy blue, with the look of someone who has achieved blindness by an act of will and means to keep it.". It is full of elements typical for classical gothic novels (everything is dark, dusty, a mad man like a central figure) and a lot of elements of American gothic stories (American countryside, dark humor and irony. His religious devotion even shames Mrs. Hopewell into claiming (falsely) that she has a Bible at her bedside. Why does Mrs. Freeman get the last word, and what does it mean? Religion is only a medium to reach the target. Chazelle, Damien ed. As she believes in his goodness, she negates her thoughts on life. However, there is no insight into her psychological world; therefore, little is known about her feelings. Although Mrs. Freeman has her own family, however, she makes sure to be at Hopewells place in mealtimes and observe them having their meals. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Hulga is punished for her act of faith, unfortunately as the Bible Salesman is not as innocent as Hulga believes. "Flannery O'Connors Stories Good Country People Summary and Analysis". He removes her glasses but she does not seem to notice. Since she has surrendered her leg (now functioning emblematically as her soul) to Pointer, Hulga feels "entirely dependent on him.". This lie, more explicitly than anything else, shows Mrs. Hopewells hypocrisy for what it is. read analysis of Class, Identity, and Superiority, read analysis of Appearances and Realities, read analysis of Authentic Faith and Vulnerability. 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. This irritates Hulga but pleases Mrs. Freeman. 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. You might also wish to note that O'Connor's selection of names for her characters helps to establish their significance in the story. Similarly, her ideas and intelligence does not help her when she needs them the most. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Sometimes, there is enough wordiness in his dialogues. To add, every human being is a Manley in himself who willingly violates every law and belief to gain his goals. 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. She also imagines that she takes his remorse and changes it into a deeper understanding of life. For example, Mrs. Hopewells idea of good people is itself contradictory. 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. As the story is structured in the Southern part of the state, some factors depict the south gothic nature of the short story. How does the main conflict in "Good Country People" affect the way the protaganist interacts with the other characters in the story. However, she is advised by the doctor to stay in the care of her mother. Because both Hulga and her mother have accepted this false view of reality, each of them "hopes well" to tailor that world to meet her own needs Mrs. Hopewell by living in a world where clichs operate as truth, and Hulga by insisting that there is nothing behind, or beyond, the surface world. "Good country people are the salt of the earth! Why were the Wakatsukis sent to Manzanar? 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. Carramae is married and pregnant while Glynese is not. Good Country People Flashcards | Quizlet In "Good Country People," does Mrs. Hopewell's character explain her daughter's character in any way? This misperception leads them to assume that the world is much simpler than it actually is. Bible We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. During the date, he persuades her to go up into the barn loft where he persuades her to remove her prosthetic leg and takes her glasses. Remember that until this moment, Hulga has subscribed to an atheistic viewpoint. She considers everyone inferior to her and reminds them of their lower class e.g. Because Hulga's glasses interfere with their kissing, Pointer removes them and puts them in his pocket. Oh, Manley Pointer. Moreover, Manleys revealing of the hollow Bible is the main symbol of appearance versus reality. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Mrs. Hopewell reluctantly invites him for supper as she finds in him a person who resembles Joy due to his heart disease. She has very few options in life and is always trapped in awkward situations that further heighten her irritation for the world. Hulga, on the other hand, is outraged by this endless self-justification and agreement. This is the symbol of her irrational thoughts and her crippled soul. Who do Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman think Manley is selling bibles to at the end of the story? In "Good Country People," what did Hulga hope to steal from Pointer when he stole her leg and glasses? Mr. Freeman is a farmer and tenant of Mrs. Hopewell. Being in power, Hopewell has the authority to shape a person according to her point of view. However, in the end, he is the one who fools her and leaves her helpless. Why does Hulga go on the picnic with Manley Pointer in "Good Country People"? She relied upon the wisdom of this world to guide her, contrary to the biblical warning to "See to it that no one deceives you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to human traditions, according to the elements of the world and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8). On the other hand, the style is also conversational because there are several discussions and dialogues among the story members i.e. This encounter represents the tiresome routine of womens life. However, Joy does not pay attention to him after greeting him. Joy gets irritated and loses her romantic mood. As Hulga is a professor in philosophy, she considers herself unique and qualified and others as illiterate fools. 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. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. She even exposes her weakness (her artificial leg) to him. These names depict the meaning of their existence in the story-line. Even though Hulga does not like or respect the Freemans, she relies on them to distract her mothers attention from her. Now, however, we see that Hulga unconsciously wants to believe that there is a power greater than herself. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. He withdraws Hulgas leg and keeps it aside. It also means that she seems more sensible and near to reality than the other ladies in the story. On his entrance in the story, his main purpose is to mock Mrs. Hopewells superior status. 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. Teachers and parents! This shows that having land and employees does not make a person independent; freedom exists in the mind of a person. How does this relationship contribute to Joys view of life and herself? Its clear that Hulga feels stifled and alone in her mothers house, and so she cant help idealizing the Bible Salesman as soon as he seems like he might be a deep person who could share her interests. . 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. her wooden leg, to make her helpless and useless. Joy suggests that they can be at ease in the barn. Mrs. Hopewell gets up at 7:00 AM and lights the heatershers and her daughter Joy'sand then she gets to gossiping in the kitchen with Mrs. Freeman. Our on Good Country People can help. Manley Pointer, on the other hand, is also on an existential journey. In "Good Country People," why is it significant that Mrs. Hopewell's daughter has two names? However, she does complain about her attitude and sadness but sympathizes with her physical condition and tries to please her in every way. Many writers portrayed it in their works. We can undoubtedly say that the whole story revolves around the theme of the distinction between false expression and the truth of a character. To sum up, there is a misrepresentation of the title in the story that depicts its ironic nature. Why does Hulga agree to meet with Manley Pointer? She has a face structure that resembles a heavy truck. Their relationship seems to be moving towards the possibility of love in the beginning, but they part in a huge disillusionment later on. money, food, useless accessories, etc. LitPriest is a free resource of high-quality study guides and notes for students of English literature. Manley takes Hulga to the barn and kisses her. What did Hulga/Joy and Manley Pointer have in common? Good Country People Summay, Themes, Characters, & Analysis | LitPriest Mrs. Hopewell survives in a self-made world of illusion, isolating herself from the real world by mouthing pseudo-philosophical, clichd maxims which only isolate her further from her daughter who has a Ph.D. in philosophy. 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. She also changed her name from Joy to Hulga when she was in college at twenty-one. In "Good Country People," why does Joy change her name to Hulga? 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. In-depth explanations of Good Country People's themes. What forces are pushing against the grandmother from without or within? She does not want to go to Florida. She is born Joy but later changes her name to Hulga. . However, the conversation turns to Mr. Pointer and upon questioning, Joy smashes into her room. 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. 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. Once again, the thirty-two-year-old Hulga seems like a moody teenager. 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. But she begins to panic and asks him to give it back to her. In philosophical terms, she is a nihilist. Therefore, she lives in the illusion that she considers reality. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. ", When Hulga meets Pointer at the gate, she finds it easy to continue her misconceptions about his innocence and her wisdom. Good Country People Summary | Shmoop Where was Flannery O'Connor born? Good country people are the salt of the earth!.
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