These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of short stories by Flannery O'Connor. She doesnt know how to be without it, so she panics, and he ends up stealing it and abandoning her in the loft. What are the character traits of Joy-Hulga in "Good Country People"? When she asks that he return it, he refuses, and from a hollowed-out Bible (emblematic perhaps of his own religious condition), he produces whiskey, prophylactics, and playing cards with pornographic pictures on them. "Good Country People" Flashcards | Quizlet As is common in many of OConnors stories, eyes are an important symbol. ", When Hulga meets Pointer at the gate, she finds it easy to continue her misconceptions about his innocence and her wisdom. Some characters consider themselves superior to others while others do not recognize where they stand in life. This same disease was then diagnosed in OConnor herself, debilitating her for many years and causing her death at age 39. 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. 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. Where was Flannery O'Connor born? 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. Struggling with distance learning? 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). 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." For example, Mrs. Hopewell sets her standards for good and bad people. Why do you think Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Hopewell are introduced before Hulga? Sometimes Mrs. Freeman also joins them in the debates. "Good Country People" - CliffsNotes However, Joy does not pay attention to him after greeting him. Hulgas insistence that she climb up to the loft indicates sensitivity regarding her artificial lega sensitivity which the Bible Salesman is now exploiting. Compare and contrast the characters and personalities of Joy (Hulga) and the Bible salesman in "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor. For example, Hulga is an intellectual character and the story ridicules her for her false admiration by the people around her because of her knowledge.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'litpriest_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',102,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-medrectangle-4-0'); OConnors depiction of characters and actions is so complex and multifold that it becomes hard to follow their contradictory natures. Then after supper, Mrs. Hopewell excuses him to make him end the meeting. Hulga sees herself as superior to and more intelligent than the men in the area, showing that she too sees a clear hierarchy of people with herself at the top. For example, Mrs. Hopewell is a respected lady and a landowner. Not affiliated with Harvard College. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. She takes care of it as someone else might take care of his soul. On the other hand, the style is also conversational because there are several discussions and dialogues among the story members i.e. But despite her class, she works hard like Mrs. Freeman. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Despite the harsh externalities of the characters, they are deeply altered by love. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Good Country People by Flannery O'Connor Start Free Trial Questions & Answers Characters Analysis Critical Essays Multiple-Choice Quizzes PDF Downloads Lesson Plans Good Country People. Mrs. Freeman, another main character, never admits herself to be wrong. When Mrs. Hopewell returns to the parlor, she finds Pointer with a Bible on each knee. 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. 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. 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. The last two paragraphs of the story, concerning Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman, were added at the suggestion of O'Connor's editor. : 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. Does Hulga deserve her fate in the short story "Good Country People"? She reluctantly agrees to his demands because she does not want to lose what he is offering. Their unexceptional kiss reinforces her belief that she is more sophisticated than ordinary people, and sees through everyday illusions like romance. She considers her old tenants as trash while the new ones are good. For example, Mrs. Hopewell is always hopeful about life. The Bible Salesmans theft of Hulgas leg represents a desecration of her most private boundaries. Hulga is completely unprepared for any kind of romantic date, and immediately assumes the worstthat the Bible Salesman wont show up. She yells at him, Youre a Christian! and accuses him of being a hypocrite. In "Good Country People," how does Hulga feel about her wooden leg. 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. Seeing this, Joy catches anger and calls him a hypocrite and a pretentious person who plays with religion. What does Mrs. Hopewell mean by the phrase "good country people"? - eNotes Throw a missing leg into . 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. She is a practical and hardworking lady and despite her upper social standing, she works with her workers in the field and at home. Many writers portrayed it in their works. This makes her fall for Manleys good nature and agrees to show him her leg. She is a grumpy person who does not care for what others say or they are. Hulga is alone and misses her artificial leg. Hulgas view of the world and the people is completely different from what Manley makes of her. 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. However, she does not intend to lose these good people, so she keeps calm. She also thinks that Mrs. Freeman is a good person because she wants to believe it but Mrs. Freeman is a sadist. For example, Mrs. Hopewells idea of good people is itself contradictory. 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. She is extremely educated and detests religious principles and beliefs. In "Good Country People," does Mrs. Hopewell's character explain her daughter's character in any way? Her major flaw is her blindness towards the reality of people. Hulga Hopewell of "Good Country People" is a unique character in O'Connor's fictional world. She takes pride in telling the Bible Salesman that she is an atheist, imagining that she will seduce him, corrupt him, and reveal to him the cynical, non-religious truth of the universe. However, she is advised by the doctor to stay in the care of her mother. Refine any search. Southern Gothic. He masks his identity to gain his means from other people through foolery. Moreover, Manleys revealing of the hollow Bible is the main symbol of appearance versus reality. She admires her daughters before Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell because Mrs. Freeman likes to make Hulga feel inferior and ordinary. 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. OConnor is a writer who highlights the importance of love by portraying its darker shade and then singling out its positive aspects. had been of that kind," she says. She is a thirty-two years old lady with a degree in philosophy. For instance, she spends most of her time reading and goes for a walk occasionally. In Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People," what is the tone of the piece? 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.
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