Introduction
“Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor follows a Southern Gothic style. Such an approach can be considered a trademark of the author. Her short tales involve a blend of divinity and macabre. The short story has a quite remarkable protagonist named Hulga.
The character is an intellectual who falls in love with a deceitful man. Notably, Hulga’s personality is similar to the writer’s other creations. Hulga will likely share the same fate as the rest of O’Connor’s clever people. The smart person will inevitably learn that she cannot rule the world and change her life.
Author Background
To better understand the story, one must learn more about its author. Flannery O’Connor was born in 1925 and grew up in Georgia (Carpenter 4). Her family hoped Flannery would follow Southern traditions, but she behaved mischievously (Carpenter 4). Flannery was interested in reading and developed “a critical eye” for childhood books (Carpenter 4).
The writer grew up witnessing the Black population being restricted (Carpenter 27). During her academic years, Flannery O’Connor lived in Georgia and Iowa. She later moved to New York upon being accepted into an artists’ community (Carpenter 56). O’Connor had a rebellious personality and lived in many diverse areas.
Story Summary
The narrative is a cautionary tale about humankind’s dishonesty and weakness. A mother and daughter living in rural America in the middle of the twentieth century. Joy, the narrative’s protagonist, decides to change her name to Hulga (O’Connor 4). Hulga is an urbanite and university student who despises her mother’s hypocritical lifestyle. However, she feels trapped by her handicap complex and has no option but to seek solace there.
O’Connor uses a straightforward narrative to expose the terrible side of humanity by introducing a Christian salesperson into their comfortable little bubble (Atkins 120). O’Connor shows that individuals have difficulty seeing themselves in others. The narrative illustrates complicated relationships and how deceitful some people may be.
Character Analysis
It is crucial to analyze Hulga’s character further to understand the story. Hulga has always been convinced she is superior to her relatives and neighbors. However, beyond this superfluous imagery is the desire to be accepted. For instance, when her mother criticizes her, Hulga replies, “If you want me, here I am – LIKE I AM” (O’Connor 4).
At the same time, the seemingly good-natured Bible seller, Manley, is, in reality, as wicked as the Devil. She plans to seduce an innocent-looking man while not realizing he is exploiting her. His nature is revealed in the barn, where Hulga’s beliefs are shattered (Atkins 120). The man manages to deceive her and steal her prosthetic leg, leaving Hulga alone and helpless. The story demonstrates how Hulga fails to maintain the personality she wishes to have.
A central theme in “Good Country People” concentrates on religion. O’Connor demonstrates that Hulga, a philosopher with a Ph.D., has always claimed to be an atheist. While people around her have a strong faith, Hulga claims she does not “even believe in God” (O’Connor 12). According to Hulga, humankind is everything, and no God or afterlife exists.
Hulga wishes to “be in a university” with people who would understand her (O’Connor 5). However, Hulga is misinterpreted by other characters who are concerned with “the word of God” (O’Connor 7). The protagonist is fooled by one of the “good country people” selling Bibles (O’Connor 10). While religion plays an essential role in the story, it is shown to be abused to deceive Hulga.
Conclusion
“Good Country People” shows that Hulga cannot control other people and her life. O’Connor uses a dark gothic style to depict a harsh psychological environment. Joy does not like her position and changes her name to Hulga in search of her identity.
Hulga wishes to be among the intellectuals but is misunderstood by others. The protagonist lives in a society that believes in God, yet Hulga is an atheist. Eventually, Hulga is tricked by a supposedly innocent religious man. As a result, Hulga may never find her place in the community. The story conveys human interactions as a web of misunderstandings and animosities, shown by cruel paradoxes.
Works Cited
Atkins, Christine. “Educating Hulga: Re-Writing Seduction in ‘Good Country People’.” On the Subject of the Feminist Business”: Re-reading Flannery O’Connor, edited by Teresa Caruso, New York: Peter Lang, 2004, pp. 120-28.
Carpenter, Mary. Flannery O’Connor: A Girl Who Knew Her Own Mind. University of Georgia Press, 2022.
O’Connor, Flannery. A Good Man is Hard to Find. Gothic Digital Series, 1955. Web.