"Good Country People"

Book Review # 116303

English > Analysis
Literature > American

A review of the short story "Good Country People" by Flannery O' Connor.

1,240 words () | 0 sources | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the protagonist, Hulga, in Flannery O'Connor's short story,"Good Country People", in order to illustrate how O'Connor centralizes her story around life-changing conflicts that force the reader to ponder life events that transform a person forever but are often times overlooked by the rest of society. The paper relates that O'Connor shows how characters are transformed by obstacles and conflicts and that many times, people do not simply overcome a situation but are impressed by it. According to the paper, in"Good Country People", O' Connor illustrates how a few minutes can permanently affect one's self-image and demonstrates once again how a character is changed from a pivotal moment that goes unnoticed.

From the Paper:

"At this moment Pointer reveals himself for who he really is, not a "good country boy" with "Chrustian" values but a lying boy who only wants to sleep with her. He uncovers a condom, a flask of whiskey and a pack of cards--symbolically the vices of sex, alcohol and gambling. Hulga is appalled when seeing him for who he really is and is disgusted that he pretended to be a "good country boy" when he had ulterior motives all along. Pointer is disappointed at her prudishness and runs off with her wooden leg after confessing that "one time [he] got a woman's glass eye this way...and Pointer ain't [his] real name." Although playing the part of a simple country boy who reads the Bible everyday, Pointer reveals himself to be nothing but a hoax out for cheap thrills at others' expense."