Joy/Hulga Revealed By Her Character Flaws

In Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “Good Country People” one major theme is everyone has flaws. Joy’s character exemplifies this through revealing her imperfections. While the other characters around her remain static, regardless of their shortcomings, Joy’s flaws change the reader’s opinion of her throughout the story. At first glance, Joy appears to be an intelligent and intellectual person, especially in comparison to her mother. As the story unfolds, one begins to see Joy’s character is very compelling and has a very strong presence. In one aspect this may be because she has overcome a great physical obstacle. Another reason is that she is the only character to show human emotion all through the story. One begins to understand her, like her, and even have compassion for her. Joy’s imperfections are what make her human, and not everyone is who they project themselves to be. Her inadequacies vary from external to internal including, physical ailments, immaturity and naiveté.

First and foremost, Joy is forced to overcome a great obstacle at a very young age. The loss of her leg in a hunting accident must have been very traumatic for her an

Naiveté is not always an imperfection. In Joy’s case it is. “Mrs. Hopewell thought of her as a child though she was thirty-two and highly educated” (185). Joy is thought of as a child; therefore she acts like a child. She is not given a fair opportunity to prove herself as an adult. She tries to do this by attending school, but her mother doesn’t understand a Ph.D. in Philosophy. “The girl had taken the Ph.D. in Philosophy and this left Mrs. Hopewell at a complete loss” (188). In her mother’s eyes she is still inadequate. Another display of Joy’s inexperience is when she runs off with the Bible salesman. In today’s times it would be dangerous for a woman to do something like that. At the time the story was written, I guess it was more acceptable. She has this crazy idea, in order to fulfill her loneliness; she might seduce this Bible salesman. The narrator says, “She had seduced him without even making up her mind to try” (195). It is very sad to find out that the Bible salesman’s intentions are not respectable. She is shocked and confused. This is the climax of the story and she is forced to stand up for herself. She seems like a strong-willed woman with a mind of her own, but when she is put under pressure she spouts out one of her mother’s clichés. “…aren’t you just good country people” (197)? By saying this, she reverts to the same mechanical-like features she despises so much in her mother. This is an encounter that will change Joy forever. It will be a learning experience. Joy already has the book smarts. With this incident she will now gain some life experience knowledge she needs to become a true adult.

d her mother.

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