O'Connor's "Good Country People"

Paper Summary:

The author states "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor is a story that illustrates how deceptive appearances can be. The author continues the story line exemplifies that errors are made when people hide behind their own cliched perceptions instead of thinking clearly about situations. The author feels that the plot makes the ending effective and leaves the reader with their eyes open wide, much like Hulga, the main character.

From the Paper:

"The story opens with the theme of hiding behind ones own perceptions by introducing the character of Mrs. Freeman. The story begins, not be telling the reader who Mrs. Freeman is, but by describing her two expressions, "forward and reverse." Mrs. Freeman is introduced as the character that makes up her mind about something, never reconsiders that opinion and never accepts that she may have been wrong. Opening in this way, establishes the theme of the story, because of the focus on how people appear. It also establishes the theme of how people think and especially, how people can make up their mind about something and then refuse to consider any other option. Finally, by telling the reader how Mrs. Freeman acts, but not whom she is, offers a test for the reader's own perceptions. The reader is forced to take the information given about her appearance and try to determine who she is. The reader then is not only reading about the subject of the story but also is taking part in the subject."

More papers on O'Connor's "Good Country People":

• Analytical Essay # 125999 : "Irony in "Good Country People"
• Analytical Essay # 2337 : "Use of Design in "Good Country People"
• Analytical Essay # 120908 : "Hulga in "Good Country People"
• Book Review # 116303 : "Good Country People"

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