Irony and No Good Country People
Can we say ironic about this story in its entirety? Apparently you cannot trust those bible sellers.
Let's just say, the most shocking point in this story, "It was hollow and contained a pocket flask of whiskey, a pack of cards, and small blue box with priniting on it" (O'Connor 192). I almost fell off my chair when I read this part. Talk about catching the reader off guard. My expression :() <-----
I enjoy those stories that begin with subtle problems which happiness overrides anyhow, but this story...shockkkkkerrrr.
Anyway, leading up to this point,^ there are two character identity changes. Joy used to be Hulga but chose the ironic name Joy because of her lack of it. With her wooden leg she was never able to dance or play since she lost it so young. JOY HOPEwell.... Significant? What about Manly?. What the heck! He clearly is not who he says he is, "come on now, let's begin to have us a good time. We ain't go to know one another good yet" (O'Connor 193). HYPOCRITE!!!
I am starting to see a theme in O'Connor's works like identity fraud (haha) and identity problems. A Good Man is Hard to Find, The River, The Life you Save May Be your Own, A Stroke of Good Fortune, and Good Country People, all have characters who struggle with idenity.
Hulga said, "I don't even believe in God," (186). The boy claiming to be a Christian and follower of God turns out to be just the opposite. The one who does not believe in God seems to have better morals than the one who pretends to. How can two people who believe in the same thing, turn out so different?
And no where in this story do you find a "Good Country Person." Mrs. Hopewell has her ego and social standing, Mrs. Freeman is the gossip queen and nosy neighbor. Hulga is mean about Glycerin and Caramel, I mean Glynese and Carramae, and don't get me started on Manly.
I was hoping the country folk would be friendly :( Well Dr. Jerz disproved that with his bunny and rainbow analogy :(
Comments
I, too, was shocked at the Bible salesman's false identity. Ok, actually, because I know how O'Connor writes, I didn't trust him at all in the beginning but the placement was perfect. I did think when reading how peculiar it was to take a girl with a wooden leg on a date off in the woods. Even though he seemed to be so interested and considerate, I figured he was a phony because of his lack of consideration. I realized the woods would be difficult to navigate with a false leg. Also, remember how O’Connor uses the woods in A Good Man is Hard to Find. (Remember, the Misfit’s accomplices took the family members into the woods to shoot them.) Manly Pointer (if that isn’t an innuendo, I don’t know what is!) did, however, somewhat persuade me he was good in the sexy scene where he takes her leg off on page 191. "Very gently he began to roll the slack leg up...The boy's face and his voice were entirely reverent as he uncovered it and said, 'Now show me how to take it off and on.'" Here he shows Hulga tenderness and consideration. He noticed the girl’s evident confidence and ego and used it to get her in the position where he could strike. Manly may be a huge JERK but you can’t say he is not a good salesman!
Posted by: Angela Palumbo | March 12, 2008 7:40 PM
Just one quick note. I thought Joy changed her name to Hulga because she thought it was uglier than just Joy. Her mother originally named her Joy. At least I think so.
Posted by: Katie Vann | March 12, 2008 9:04 PM
Actually, I thought his story wasn't very shocking at all. In my opinion, the story was very cliche. I mean, the hypocrite christian archtype has been done to death. In a way, I almost expected this twist to happen based on O'Connor's past stories.
Posted by: Ethan Shepley | March 13, 2008 5:52 PM
Great analysis, Tiffany! I like how you commented on the change in identity of the characters. I think that is very significant. One of my favorite parts is when the nosy woman starts calling her Hulga, and Hulga gets mad because she chose the name to be her own and she did not want anyone else to call her that.
Posted by: Lauren Miller | March 14, 2008 7:15 AM