Use Of Irony In Flannery O Connor's Good Country People

Unlike Alanis Morissette, Flannery O’Connor used irony in a much subtler fashion in her work. O’Conner’s unique use of literary tools is one reason she “is considered one of the best short story authors of the 20th century” (Biography.com ). O’Connor ‘s use of irony is especially evident in the short-story “Good Country People.” Equally important is O’Connor’s use of clichés. The typical cliché lacks any substance. Ironically, clichés expressed in “Good Country People” depict abstract ideas. O’Connor’s unique combination of clichés and irony forces readers discern deeper concepts within the text. However, the readers’ ability to grasp these concepts hinges on paying close attention to the character depictions of Mrs. Hopewell, Hulga Hopewell, and Manely Pointer.

As I read Flannery O’Connor’s short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, I find myself being completely consumed by the rich tale that the author weaves; a tragic and ironic tale that concisely and precisely utilizes irony and foreshadowing with expert skill. As the story progresses, it is readily apparent that the story will end in a tragic and predictable state due to the devices which O’Connor expertly employs and thusly, I find that I cannot stop reading it; the plot grows thicker with every sentence and by doing so, the characters within the story are infinitely real in my mind’s eye. As I consider these factors, the story focuses on two main characters; that of the grandmother, who comes across as self-centered and self-serving and

Sally Thomas family is given an opportunity to make a name for herself by being given social and business opportunities. While the southernmost states have a different outtake on slavery, Sally and her family are treated with much more respect. Sally is able to own her own business as a laundress and comes to be popular in the town for her kindness and fairness.

One way Flannery O’Connor uses biblical references in her short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” is by characterizing The Misfit to seem like a couple of different major

Furthermore, Krakauer, in the structuring of his book, presents the reader with great amounts of irony, both dramatic and situational. Fairly early in the story, we know that Chris is dead, and Krakauer uses this to an ironical advantage. By already knowing his fate and his background, the reader is able to see the irony is Chris’ death. By dying in a bus in tandem with dying only a couple of hours from civilization, Chris was not truly in the wild. Once again, Krakauer makes the reader sympathize with Chris, for he died not able to fulfill his dream and escape from society. Like in the bus, he was trapped within society, unable to escape no matter how hard he tried. His use of periodic sentences solidifies this idea. Specifically, when Krakauer travels with Chris’ parents to the place of their son’s death.

Manley Pointer, the antagonist of Flannery O’Connor’s “Good Country People,” is a character of multiple dimensions. He is considered a “good country people” by many of the characters in the beginning of the short story, including Hulga. However, by the end, it is revealed that he is not a reputable person, and is rather the opposite of the persona he portrays himself. Manley believes that he must act this way in order to make a living. There is a root cause to his flawed rational that must be uncovered, although some would argue that he is only a simple character and has no root cause to explain his behavior. However, Manley’s past is extremely influential to his actions and the person he claims to be.

In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, Flannery O’Connor uses grotesque and flawed characters to reflect her own faith on the Roman Catholic Church. Set in the rural South during the 1950s, O’Connor takes readers on a journey from a satiric family comedy to a brutal cold blooded murder. An analysis of O’Connor’s use of religious symbolism and foreshadowing through characters and setting will be conducted in order to better understand her views and faith of the Catholic Church. This paper will also argue the belief that religious wisdom is the key for moral guidance.

In addition to the characterization of Joy-Hulga O’Connor’s depiction of Mrs. Hopewell creates irony that begins with her names. Like joy, Mrs. Hopewell, is full of the same limiting perceptions of those around her. Demonstrated by the belief that country people are “good”, or the “salt of the earth.” In much the same way Joy’s impairment results in Mrs. Hopewell’s perpetual assumption that joy is like a child. She regards her with

Manley Pointer is introduced as a good country simple young man who is going around selling Bibles. He tries to sell Mrs. Hopewell a bible but she does not buy one, because she has one already so she invites Manley to stay for dinner. As she talks to him she is under the impression that he is a good country person, which she believes is a person who is a person from the

Hulga uses her handicap, a leg partially shot off during a hunting accident, as an excuse for stomping loudly around the house in the hope of irritating her mother. Although Hulga sees herself as intellectually superior, her self-esteem and self-image are low due to her handicap, as evidenced by her complete disregard for her appearance. Further evidence of her low self-esteem is her changing her name from Joy to Hulga, a name that her mother, Mrs. Hopewell, felt was ?the ugliest name in any language.? Unbeknownst to Hulga, Mrs. Hopewell grieved for her daughter?s tragic life and excuses much of her behavior ?because of

In “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor is a short story about people who do not appear to be who they say to be. Hulga is a thirty-two year old woman with a heart condition and has a prosthetic leg. O’Connor illustrates Hulga as an experience and strong woman, is well educated, but also childish and weak. With her strength and arrogance being peeled away when her leg, the symbol of her strength, is stolen revealing her true weakness, helplessness. O'Connor’s message is when confronted with true nothingness, people who have a mechanical way of dealing with the world, often realize their lack of self.

What is a “Good Country Person?” Who makes the decision in whether a person is good or not. Is there such thing as good person? When a person thinks that they are always good, it probably means that they are are lying because no one person is perfect. Although there is no such thing as a perfect person, often times people are sometimes perceived to be perfect or better than they really are. Perception is the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. In her article on the morality of perception, Gayman acknowledges, “Unlike mere recognition, perception requires the work of the intelligence and demands careful observation and engaged attention” (1). Being able to perceive the character of a person is necessary if a person wants to fully trust another person. In “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor, irony, symbolism, and characterization are used to prove that one’s perception of something or someone is not always reliable.

O’Connor also uses irony to contribute to the story’s plot and convey its overall theme. The first and most obvious use of irony in this short story is the title, “Good Country People.” She uses this title to describe and express the way society was and how people during that period were perceived. If you were of a particular upbringing you were considered “good country people.” Another example of the author’s use of irony is through the character of Manley Pointer, a traveling bible salesman. His occupation alone gives the reader the impression he is a good honest country boy. The irony of this example is revealed through his encounter with Joy when he exhibits a personality totally opposite of a Christian bible salesman. The fact that Joy,

As we first meet Manley Pointer he is trying to sell Mrs. Hopewell a Bible. When she is not interested, he apologizes and plays on her sympathy by saying, “I’m just a country boy….People like you don’t like to fool with country people like me!'; When confronted with this Mrs. Hopewell exclaims “good country people are the salt of the earth!'; and “there aren’t enough good country people in the world';. Seeing that he has found Mrs. Hopewell’s weakness for “Good Country People,'; Manley proceeds to play up his being a country boy. “Not even from a place, just from near a place.'; Then in what I believe to be just another attempt to gain sympathy, Manley tells Mrs. Hopewell that he has a heart condition and may not live long. This gains him an invitation to dinner, which he gladly accepts. Yes Manley Pointer is a fine example of “Good Country People.'; NOT! And we are only just getting to know him.

The arrival of nineteen-year-old Manley Pointer, a bible salesman and a con artist, sparks interest in Hulga. He is familiar with the tricks of the trade as most door-to-door salesman are. Mrs. Hopewell is not interested in entertaining him or his sales pitch. Manley states, “People don’t like to fool with country people like me,” touches Mrs. Hopewell. She comments concerning the good country people and the world’s lack of numbers of that breed. Hulga is not impressed and asks her mother to “get rid of the salt of the earth… and let’s eat.” He mentions being a poor country boy with a heart condition. This tugs at Mrs. Hopewell’s heart strings so she asks him to stay for dinner. Manley continuously stares at Hulga during dinner which