Good Country People Group at eNotes

Since theme is the central or dominmate idea in a literary work (the...

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:08:26 PST

Since theme is the central or dominmate idea in a literary work (the unifying point for plot, character, setting and point of view), Flannery O'Connors works are always about the spiritual in the secular world. Her theme in this short story would revolve around man's arrogance in thinking that she is the center of her universe and knows it all. Her "leg" represents her uniqueness. Joy believes that "nothing" is the only...

No one deserves to be conned like Hulga was, but had she not been so...

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:38:47 PST

No one deserves to be conned like Hulga was, but had she not been so haughty toward those with less education than she, perhaps she would not have been in the situation in the first place.

Theme is defined as the main idea or ideas that the author wants the...

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:27:43 PST

Theme is defined as the main idea or ideas that the author wants the reader to understand. Most pieces of literature (movies, TV scripts, plays, stories, novels, etc.) have many themes. You can find the theme by saying: ____________________ (name of the work) is a story about ____________________ (first thing that comes to mind).In "Good Country People," some of the themes include: 1. identity--Joy changes her name to...

The theme of "Good Country People" could be interpreted...

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:42:59 PST

The theme of "Good Country People" could be interpreted several ways. For example, the fact that Hulga is overly pessimistic from the beginning could lead the reader to draw the conclusion that the theme has to do with the fact that "things" could always be worse. Another possibility is that the theme has to do with pride going before a fall. Although Hulga might seem, at first, to find no value in herself, she...

What would the theme be of "Good Country People"?

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:18:11 PST

What would the theme be of "Good Country People"?

This is a good discussion board question since you will get varying...

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:09:48 PST

This is a good discussion board question since you will get varying opinions.I do not believe that Hulga deserved to be taken advantage of and violated by having her leg stolen by the bible salesman, no. Hulga clearly had her own issues that she needed to address, including being gullible. However, she did not deserve to be lied to and manipulated for cruel purposes. Hulga was too trusting of the bible salesman and should have realized...

Does Hulga deserve her fate in the short story "Good Country People"?

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:25:04 PST

Does Hulga deserve her fate in the short story "Good Country People"?

Good observation. What I find interesting about Hulga is that she...

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 21:05:51 PST

Good observation. What I find interesting about Hulga is that she believes herself to be very smart and most likely, beyond being tricked or duped; however, she, at the end of the story, is duped in a big way by the Bible salesman, which, no doubt, shatters her sense of reality and trust.

glasses

Sat, 6 Sep 2008 20:52:47 PST

Anyone else notice the symbolism here? Early on in the "seduction" Manley removes Hulga's glasses (representing clear sight/judgement). It is also mentioned that she does not see very well even with them on, leading the reader to a physical representation that even without being "googly-eyed," she still lacked good sense.

Anything is possible, but Joy/Hulga is probably going to be more sullen...

Tue, 6 May 2008 11:03:35 PST

Anything is possible, but Joy/Hulga is probably going to be more sullen and bitter than ever now that she has been one-upped by one of those darned "good country people" from whom she distances herself with her intellect and education.

I think that it is possible for Joy/Hulga to re-examine her beliefs in...

Mon, 5 May 2008 17:34:27 PST

I think that it is possible for Joy/Hulga to re-examine her beliefs in view of the fact that she has now come face to face with abject cruelty in the form of Manley Pointer, an individual devoid of feeling. She thought she was cold and uncaring and didn't believe in anything, but with the treatment she receives from him, she calls out for Christian charity, mercy. If she was beyond all belief, she would, I believe have found some sense of...

O'Connor, of course, leaves this question unanswered at the end of her...

Mon, 5 May 2008 14:55:05 PST

O'Connor, of course, leaves this question unanswered at the end of her story with an ambiguous ending. You could make a good case, however, that Hulga will change in some way after her encounter with the Bible salesman. In her book on writing called Mystery and Manners, O'Connor explains why her stories contain shocking events and even violence:" . . . in my own stories I have found that violence is strangely capable of returning my...

In the story, "Good Country People," will Hulga change?

Mon, 5 May 2008 14:23:20 PST

I was curious to know whether or not Hulga will change her ways after she experiences her epiphany.

There is a sense of "otherness" about both of them which draw...

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 09:39:29 PST

There is a sense of "otherness" about both of them which draw them to each other. She rejects those around her--her mother, her mother's friends, others in the community--for being ignorant and uneducated. She rejects their "happy" attitudes by changing her name from "Joy" to "Hulga"--you can't much uglier than that. She also makes much unnecessary noise with her leg to emphasize her unhappiness...

Why are Hulga and Manley drawn to each other in "Good Country...

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 07:59:31 PST

Why are Hulga and Manley drawn to each other in "Good Country People"?

A primary literary work is the Bible, which appears frequently in this...

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:55:45 PST

A primary literary work is the Bible, which appears frequently in this story. Manley is a Bible salesman, which is ironic, obviously. Also, Manley ends up epitomizing evil at the end of the story in many ways. He has deceived Hulga deliberately, taken full advantage of her physically and emotionally, and has stolen her leg, which represents a "spiritual rape." The Enotes on this story point out that:As with many of...

What are literary works the author uses in "Good Country...

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:10:01 PST

What are literary works the author uses in "Good Country People"? Give an example.