Real and the Imagined in

¶ … Real and the Imagined in "Good Country People" The real and the imagined become points of focus in Flannery O'Connor's short story, "Good Country People," as O'Connor explores the vast difference between the perceived and the genuine. The characters in this story do not see the world or the people in it as they actually are. The good country people are not as good as they appear and the tough, independent, and educated woman is not so strong or educated, after all.

Good Country People" is about false impressions and misguided notions that must be realized through that action of a bad country person. O'Connor reveals begins her character examination with irony, suggesting in the title of the story that all people from the country are good. The character that represents this most prominently is Manley. Because he is selling Bibles and quoting scripture, he gives a false impression.

However, he is clever and when he says, "He who loosest his life shall find it," he is meaning t in the least spiritual way. Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman fall for his prank noting that he is "so sincere, so genuine and earnest that Mrs. Hopewell would not for the world have smiled" (O'Connor). This trust is assumed until the end of the story, which emphasizes the point that not all country people are good. In fact, Mrs.

Hopewell believes in the goodness of people, stating, "good country people are the salt of the earth" (265). Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman are the opposite of Hulga, who is abrasive and unpleasant. When her mother chastises her for her attitude, she tells her that she is "LIKE I AM" (261). Mrs. Hopewell believes that "Nothing is perfect" (260) and other people have their opinions too" (260), which allows her to tolerate Hulga's off-putting demeanor. These characters have their views of the world and people and this is changed when Manley enters the picture.

Manley forces Hulga to realize she is not the thought woman she wants to be and he forces Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman that not all country people are good. Hulga is not the strong women she attempts to be, however, and nothing demonstrates this more than her reaction to Manley's treatment of her. In the home with the two older women, Hulga can express herself as she wishes because she knows these women will excuse her at the end of the day. Mrs.

Hopewell has done this for most of Hulga's life so Hulga does not feel threatened by Manley. Hugla's view of the world is severely skewed. She believes she knows everything and brags about that, stating, "Some of us have taken off our blindfolds and see that there's nothing to see. It's a kind of salvation" (273). Her education is limited to the confines of her world and Manley forces her to come to terms with this notion as he leaves her sitting in the barn.

Until she was left, she saw only wanted she.