"Good Country People" is a short story written by Flannery O'Connor that tells the tale of a woman named Joy who, despite being well-educated and from a good family, has become a bitter and cynical person. Joy's interactions with three other characters in the story illustrate the theme of the corrupting influence of pride and the redemptive power of humility.
The first character we are introduced to is Joy, also known as Hulga. Hulga is a 30-year-old woman who is well-educated and comes from a wealthy family, but she has chosen to reject her privileged upbringing and embrace a life of atheism and intellectualism. Hulga is proud of her intelligence and views herself as superior to those around her, especially the "good country people" who live on her family's farm. This pride is ultimately her downfall, as it leads her to be easily manipulated by the con man, Manley Pointer, who poses as a bible salesman.
Manley Pointer is a smooth-talking charmer who uses his charm and charisma to manipulate Hulga into believing that he is a genuine person who cares about her. Despite Hulga's intellectual superiority, she falls for Manley's charms and allows him to take advantage of her. Hulga's pride blinds her to the fact that Manley is not who he claims to be and ultimately leads to her being humiliated and robbed.
The third character in the story is Mrs. Hopewell, Hulga's mother. Mrs. Hopewell is a devout Christian who is always looking for ways to convert people to her way of thinking. She sees Manley as a way to save Hulga from her sinful ways and is excited when Hulga agrees to go on a date with him. However, Mrs. Hopewell's pride in her own faith and belief in her own superiority over others ultimately leads to her own downfall, as she is unable to see that Manley is not who he claims to be.
The final character is Gloria, the farmhand's daughter. Gloria is a simple-minded young woman who is not well-educated, but she is kind and genuine. Despite her lack of intelligence, Gloria is able to see through Manley's lies and recognizes that he is not a good person. Gloria's humility allows her to see the truth and ultimately helps to redeem Hulga.
In "Good Country People," O'Connor uses the characters of Hulga, Manley Pointer, Mrs. Hopewell, and Gloria to explore the theme of the corrupting influence of pride and the redemptive power of humility. Hulga's pride leads her to be easily manipulated by Manley, while Mrs. Hopewell's pride leads her to be blind to the truth about him. Gloria, on the other hand, is able to see through Manley's lies and ultimately helps to redeem Hulga through her humility. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in our relationships with others.
