Disillusionment and the Double Meaning of Good Country People

I found Flannery O’Connor’s Good Country People to be ironic. In this story, we have Joy-Hulga, the archetypical O’Connor character. However, unlike O’Connor’s other characters who share similar traits, Joy is an intellectual who is brought to her own demise through naivety and disillusionment.

Disillusionment in this story is very important and Manley Pointer, a simple country folk, is its main proponent. Manley says that he is selling Bibles and speaks often of Christianity. However, in the end he proves to be the story’s protagonist. Manley has succeeded in tricking “good country people” into believing that he is like them and moreover, that he is a Christian, simply by using the word. Thus, the role of the phrase “good country people” in this story takes on another connotation. Disillusionment also occurs with the character of Joy. Rather than being fooled by Manley, she brings herself to her own demise. By instantly assuming Manley to be what he says, a good Christian country folk, she instantly assumes her intellect is superior to any of his motives. By regarding her own mental capabilities too highly, Joy’s guard is let down and she is taken advantage of by Manley.

As a whole, Good Country People is about taking first impressions as face value and the disillusionment that ensues when no questions are asked of character.