Good Country People at eNotes

In Flannery O'Connor's story "Good Country People," Hulga has a Ph.D. in philosophy and is an atheist. She believes that her education gives her a better understanding of the world, including the tenets of religion. Her choice of being an atheist and her resistance to the Bible could be seen as aspects of her elitist attitude and are indicative of her rejection of the possibility of a spiritual life. She thinks that smart people know better...

What did Hulga/Joy and Manley Pointer have in common?

Is it significant that the story begins and ends with Mrs. Freeman? Why or why not?

Bookending her story "Good Country People" with Mrs. Freeman allows author Flannery O'Connor to reinforce the irony of the story, a key technique she uses to communicate her themes. At the beginning of the story, readers meet Mrs. Freeman, Mrs. Hopewell's hired hand, and learn about her three expressions: neutral, forward, and reverse. Mrs. Freeman has strong opinions about nearly everything and rarely reverses them. Despite her employee's...

As in many of Flannery O'Connor's stories, "Good Country People" has no real hero and no character is particularly admirable. Mrs. Freeman, who is the first person introduced in the story, has many flaws, among which is that she is "the nosiest woman ever to walk the earth." Her macabre interest in the accident that took Joy's leg is another quality that is less than admirable. Hulga/Joy is proud, pessimistic, rude, and perverse. Manley...

One of the ironies of "Good Country People" is how alike Hulga and Manley Pointer are. As Mrs. Freeman states, "Some people are more alike than others," and that applies to Mrs. Hopewell's daughter and the Bible salesman. Here are some of their similarities: 1. Both have an assumed name: Joy has changed her name to Hulga, and Manley Pointer tells Hulga at the end of the story that "Pointer" is not his real name. 2. Both dress oddly: Hulga's...

I do not think any of the characters in "Good Country People" are heroic. Mrs. Hopewell is delusional and relies on broad stereotypes to divide people into categories. She decides Manley is "good country people" and is blind to the danger he poses to her daughter. Hulga assumes her advanced degree places her above everyone else, and she assumes she has the upper hand in any interaction with "good country people." Manley is a liar and a...

What could be a thesis statement for the short story "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor?

Your thesis statement is your position and lets your readers know what you intend to prove in your essay. The following are some ideas of possible positions you could take on Flannery O'Connor's short story, "Good Country People." Flannery O'Connor's use of situational irony in this story highlights the motivations of the characters. Joy, who renamed herself Hulga, is Mrs. Hopewell's thirty-two-year-old daughter with a false leg and a Ph.D....

How did Flannery O'Connor's life and beliefs influence her writings in "Good Country People?"

Flannery O'Connor is an American author whose writings were heavily influenced by her life and beliefs. O'Connor was a devout Catholic who expressed the tenets of her faith through many of her writings, including "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and "Good Country People." Flannery O'Connor's Life O'Connor was raised in Savannah, Georgia until her family relocated to Milledgeville, Georgia when she was a teenager. She grew up in a well-known Roman...

Explain how "Revelation" could be used as a title for any of the O'Connor stories: "Good Country People,"" A Good Man is Hard to Find," and "Revelation."

Compare Flannery O'Connor's characters: Joy-Hulga in "Good Country People" and Mary Grace in "Revelation."

Why did Flannery O'Connor title her short story "Good Country People?"

In “Good Country People” explain what in the final ten lines adds to the story as a whole.

Compare and contrast the characters and personalities of Joy (Hulga) and the Bible salesman in "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor.

Basing your opinion upon their experiences in the respective stories, do you think Ruby and Hulga/Joy will become better people? Why or why not? ["Revelation" and "Good Country People"]

In "Good Country People," why is it significant that Mrs. Hopewell's daughter has two names?

How do physical handicaps symbolize the larger handicap of the intellect?

Explore why and how Manley Pointer is able to be so successful in his misadventures as a traveling salesman in “Good Country People."

In Flannery O'Connor's story "Good Country People," Hulga has a Ph.D. in...

What did Hulga/Joy and Manley Pointer have in common?

Is it significant that the story begins and ends with Mrs. Freeman? Why...

Bookending her story "Good Country People" with Mrs. Freeman allows...

As in many of Flannery O'Connor's stories, "Good Country People" has no...

One of the ironies of "Good Country People" is how alike Hulga and...

I do not think any of the characters in "Good Country People" are...

What could be a thesis statement for the short story "Good Country...

Your thesis statement is your position and lets your readers know what...

How did Flannery O'Connor's life and beliefs influence her writings in...

Flannery O'Connor is an American author whose writings were heavily...

Explain how "Revelation" could be used as a title for any of the...

Compare Flannery O'Connor's characters: Joy-Hulga in "Good Country...

Why did Flannery O'Connor title her short story "Good Country People?"

In “Good Country People” explain what in the final ten lines adds...

Compare and contrast the characters and personalities of Joy (Hulga) and...

Basing your opinion upon their experiences in the respective stories, do...

In "Good Country People," why is it significant that Mrs. Hopewell's...

How do physical handicaps symbolize the larger handicap of the intellect?

Explore why and how Manley Pointer is able to be so successful in his...