"Good Country People" is a short story by Flannery
O'Connor about a bible salesman, Manley Pointer, who deceives people about his
intentions and who likes to steal artificial body parts, including artificial
legs.
Hulga, who changed her name from "Joy", is obviously
significant. "Joy" is a name associated with happiness; however, "Joy" hates the name
and changes it to "Hulga" in part to spite her
mother.
Manley Pointer is the bible salesman who comes to
call at Hulga's house. Manley is significant because he is anything but a real "man."
He is a liar and a thief.
Also, there can be significance
in the name "Hopewell", which is the last name of Hulga and her mother. "Hope" and
"well" both have positive meanings as separate words, but what happens in the story is
far from hopeful and good. If anything, it shakes Hulga's sense of self-importance and
superiority.
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