Themes Of Good Country People

In “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” the Grandmother is the protagonist. She is the focus of the narrative and the character whose reactions we encounter the most. More importantly, the third person narrative focuses strongly on the grandmother’s point of view, which establishes her in the reader’s mind much more than any other character. Nevertheless, the grandmother views herself as a rather dignified and traditional woman who appears to judge everyone, but manages to constantly overlook her own flaws. This appears various times such as when she conveys her ideas about the upcoming vacation and June Star states “She has to go everywhere we go” (O’Connor 567), in which merely displays the Grandmother as unwanted by the family. This can be compared to that of the Misfit in the story who also appears to be unwanted by his family. Despite this, the Grandmother continuously positions herself in the family’s everyday activities while imposing her judgment every chance she gets. Moreover, she is censorious of her son and daughter in law for not allowing their children to “see different parts of the world and be broad” (O’Connor 567). She is also critical of her grandchildren for not being like children “In my time” (O’Connor 569) who “were more respectful” (O’Connor 569). By doing this, O’Connor presents a strong characterization of the woman and her virtually unbreakable mindset. However, this story reflects on how through any conflict you can find the good in others, but sometimes it is too late for them to realize their own mistakes. Eventually, the Grandmother confronts evil in the form of The Misfit and seems to show a completely different side of

The grandmother, the main character of the story, is manipulative. Her definition of a ‘good man’ refers to the characteristics that a ‘good man’ should possess.

Hulga from “ Good Country People” described as manipulative and compulsive, but at the end she became vulnerable. Mrs. Hopewell stated “ Whenever she looked at Joy this way, she could not help but feel that it would have been better if the child had not taken the Ph.D. It had certainly not brought her out any…” (175) The reason for Hugla’s false view of reality is because she has obtained a Ph.D. degree in philosophy, causing her to misunderstand the true value of life. Early on in the novel for Hugla you can’t find the irony behind her false reality, until she meets the bible salesman who corrupts her beliefs. “ I don’t have illusions. I’m one of those people who see through to nothing.”(183) At this point in the novel she still believes she is a rationalist, through every situation she is in, especially, when she doesn’t tell the bible salesman that she loves him. She doesn’t wish to use

She claims to believe in nothing therefore she is a nihilist. However, she is not a true nihilist as she wavers from believing in nothing to comparing people to God. For example, after Mrs. Hopewell commented that a smile never hurt anyone and Hulga states, “Woman! Do you ever look inside? Do you ever look inside and see what you are not? God! [...] Malebranche was right: we are not our own light” (Country People 473). According to Helga’s words she does believe in God because philosopher Malebranche did believe in God and that our “light”-everything that makes humans alive, does come from God. O’Connor has Hulga contradict her own words to show reality is Hulga is confused and deep down inside she does believe in God. Hulga is also a disable person as she has a fake leg. In the short story her leg was stolen leaving her semi-crippled. By doing so O’Connor is attempting to show Hulga’s belief system has always been faulty as she doubted herself from the start. The final stealing of Hulga’s leg makes her realize that without believing in God she is crippled and doesn’t have a strong foundation of belief in

Unlike Hooper in “A Minister’s Veil,” in “Good Country People,” Hulga is a crippled character who believes in no God. She not only has a wooden leg, she also has poor eyesight and a heart condition. However, Kate Oliver stated these “physical afflictions symbolize her emotional, intellectual, and spiritual impairments.” What Oliver means is that Joy/Hulga’s physical defects represent her misshapened spirit and her broken outlook towards religion. Oliver also stated that “Joy-Hulga revels in her rejection of God. She is a self-proclaimed atheist.” Furthermore, Hulga loved philosophy and this is what she believed in rather than God. She believed in the philosophies that taught that nothing exist outside the self and this belief is another manifestation of her spiritual defects. She chose to believe in this nothing

     In the short story, 'A Good Man is Hard to Find', the main character is the grandmother. Flannery O'Connor, the author, lets the reader find out who the grandmother is by her conversations and reactions to the other characters in the story. The grandmother is the most important character in the story because she has a main role in the stories principal action. This little old lady is the protagonist in this piece. We learn more about her from her direct conversation with the son, Bailey, her grandchildren, June Star and John Wesley, and the Misfit killer. Through these conversations, we know that she is a lady raised from a traditional background. In the story, her attitude changes

fact that she is the center of her own world and shows no affection to her family. Hulga is a

Hulga did not care about anyone else but herself. She lived in self-pity. There are many disabled kids, adults and veterans in the world. There are professional runners and people without limbs that work and do amazing things. Even though she had these issues she thought she was better and too good for everyone else. Mrs. Hopewell states that Hulga, “was brilliant but she didn’t have a grain of sense.”(O’Connor 558) Hulga even

do you ever look inside? Do you ever look inside and see what you are not? God!” (1343). The rigid and explicit behavior associated with the rebellious nature that Hulga exhibits is likely a diversion technique that makes her feel secure and comfortable around others. Hulga also exhibits a guarded personality through her unwillingness to trust others, which is another support for her insecure nature. Her guarded personality shows when she begins to socialize with the bible salesman in a very impersonal manner: “Joy had given him one look on being introduced to him and then throughout the meal has not glanced at him again” (1346). Aside from the demonstration of insecurity through rebellion, explicit behavior, and a guarded personality, Hulga also finds comfort in her condescending nature that stems from her advanced philosophical education. Mrs. Hopewell, Hulga’s mother, describes Hulga’s education as a “Ph.D. in philosophy” (1344). Hulga uses her extensive educational background throughout the story as she condescends upon others, and imagines herself as superior: “True genius can get an idea across even to an inferior mind” (1349). Hulga’s behavior of hiding behind condescending behavior and assumed superiority is another shield to aid in her handicap related to

For instance, Hulga’s virtue may be seen as weak in that she gives in quite easily to Pointer specifically since she understands him to be Christian like and a Bible salesman. As for pride as an illusory, Mrs. Hopewell appears to have a false sense of pride in herself and Mrs. Freeman. She frequently alludes to Good Country People as in herself and Mrs. Freeman manifesting her illusory pride. Hulga also displays a false sense of pride in that she adamantly believes her education is above all. From an evil perspective, one could argue that the evil in this story lies with Hulga not Pointer as some may believe. For example, Hulga’s situation in the end where her wooden leg is taken from her may be viewed as Hulga getting what she deserves since she displayed a terrible attitude to everyone in the story. And so, Pointer, may be viewed as the one rescuing her from her faulty attitude so again Hulga is the evil in the story is what I can assume from a skeptical

Joy-Hulga, who had grown cynical and cold as she grew up with only one leg and heart ailment, creates an image that she is smarter and better than the rest of the characters in the story. Her education and self-absorption seemed to instill this attitude in her to greater extent than if she hadn’t studied and read so much. Her weakness is the feeling of power she believed she gained from her studies. She refers to herself as a person who “sees

Her leg is not her only physical problem, she also has a heart disease that will likely kill her while she is relatively young. As a result, Hulga does not leave the house and cannot pursue her desires to teach philosophy. Hulga spends the majority of her time at home reading and gathering knowledge. This leads her to believe she is much more intellectual than others. Hulga is isolated and lonely, which leaves her vulnerable to people that may take advantage of her, such as Manley. Hulga lacks common sense and the ability to socialize with people besides her mother and Mrs.Freeman, which leads to her demise.

Mrs. Hopewell made sure that she was into everything. Mrs. Hopewell also shows an abundance of patience with Hulga, her daughter. Hulga does not have a happy personality, and she is very blunt with her mother. Mrs. Hopewell excuses her negativity because she has one leg, and has no reason to go back to school because she had already obtained a Ph.D.

The short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” is told by having the attention on the grandmother and her believe that she knows better than anyone else, she is the central character. She believes that her family as well believes that she is a good judge of human nature according to her. Although this story is told in third person we are able to see the point of view of the grandmother directly. We as well see the confrontation with evil through her view, in the form of the Misfit we see evil. The main point that goes across throughout this short story is that we all make mistakes.

The unnamed grandmother in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” considers herself morally superior to others by her being a “lady,” and she freely and frequently passes judgment on other people within the story. She claims that her conscience is a guiding force in her life, such as when she tells Bailey that her