Good Country People Grace

One moment of grace in the Story is when Hulga first meets Manley. She is always angry and upset and trying to upset other people, but feels a connection with Manley. He says that he has a heart condition and she thinks that they share that condition. She blurts out that he can stay for dinner. This is very different from her normal personality. She normally would pay no attention to him or even force him to leave. After she says it, she regrets it though. This is because of her personality. She tries to be angry all of the time; she does not understand why she would say something like that. This takes away from the moment, but is still a moment of grace none-the-less because she starts to change.

Another moment of grace is when Manley takes her leg and leaves. Hulga thought she knew so much, but was outsmarted by a boy, which probably shocked her because she thought all boys were stupid. She said that she believed in nothing and when Manley is leaving he says that he has believed in nothing for his entire life. This is a complete shock to Hulga because everything she believed in was flipped. How could she be deceived by someone, so lacking in intelligence, compared to herself who was bright and believed in nothing? This was a moment of grace because she changes so much. She thought she was right no matter what and could do no wrong. She did not believe that someone could outsmart her, but Manley did and she had to change the way she thought about everything else.

Yet another moment of grace occurs when Mrs. Freeman comments on how simple Manley is. He seems like he is a very simple man and says that she could never be that simple. It is a moment of grace because Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Hopewell think that Manley is just a simple man, but that is really not the case. He forces them to change their perspective on how they look at people being simple.

Manley is a vehicle of grace, even though he represents evil, because he forces many people to change. He makes Hulga change her thinking many times and changes the view of Mrs. Freeman because she thinks that he is very simple. Manley is a vehicle of grace in these ways.

Grace in a Story of Race Theological Response c

A moment of grace in the story is when the Black Lady hits the pocketbook out of Julian’s mom’s hand. Julian’s mom looks down to black people and was doing that when she was trying to give the little black boy a penny. The little boy’s mom was a strong woman and was not going to be looked down upon and hit the pocketbook out of her hand. This threw Julian’s mom for a loop. She was not expecting anything like that. She was so used to looking down and black people, be stood up to shock her and she took it very hard. It is a moment of grace because she had to change they way she thought for her entire life.

Another moment of grace is when Julian’s mom collapses. He spent the entire night trying to irritate his mother or think of ways to irritate her. He thought he was going to teach her a lesson because of they was she thinks about black people and the way she acts. He thought she learned her lesson when the Black Lady knocked her down, but she took it much harder than she had thought. She collapsed when while walking home and he regrets antagonizing her immediately. He had no idea she would take it this hard or that it would have this much of an effect on her. It is a moment of grace because Julian realizes that he was wrong for trying to force his beliefs on someone else.

One vehicle of grace is the Black Lady. Julian tries to use her to change his mother’s way of thinking, then she does it on her own. She did not want to be looked down upon and stood up for herself, which forced Julian’s mom to change her way of thinking. She finally realized the things were not like that used to be. That is why she is a vehicle of grace.

Another vehicle of grace is Julian’s mom. After the incident with the Black Lady, she is shocked and just wants to go home. She just starts walking and Julian pleads with her to take the bus, but she just keeps walking. She then collapses and this forces Julian to realize that he was wrong for trying to change his mom’s way of thinking. He is grief stricken and filled with sorrow after she collapses. That is why she is a vehicle of grace.

Artistic Response C--Poem

Ode to a Converging World

Civil Rights, times changing
Freedom Fights, roads converging

People live
People die
Times come, times go
But always, a Choice will follow
We can go along, that we know
Or shelter ourselves in darkened worlds.
What a foolish decision.
Only pain and suffering lives within
God grace must be let in.

Julian and mother relax
Going down a familiar road
Everything safe, everything kind
Things are good, things are fine
But subtle messages become defined.

The passengers stare, judge
Silently, openly
Watching and waiting.

Only one stands aside
But sadly
Does not abide
By his own set of morals
His actions defined by a simple quarrel
With his mother no less
God’s heaven bless.

For every action spites his mother
Little respect for one another
Disagreeing on simple matters
While all is splattered
On the windshield of God’s Grace.
Race, color, and sex matters little to God
For He can see what we cannot.

And in the end
Judgment pending
No more lies reside
In this strong woman’s mind
Let God’s Grace be served
As is deserved.

Creative Response c for Every Thing That Rises Must Converge

To Julian's Mother'
I heard of your recent events on they way to your class. I hope that this opened your eyes to what is going on in the world. Many things have changed, people play different roles in society. Minorities have a greater role, they are no longer lower class. They will not tolerate any more injustices. They fought to long and to hard for their rights. What you might thing is an act of kindness might no longer be acceptable.
Do not get me wrong, these changes are all for the best. Minorities are moving up and they are contributing greatly to society. They are enhancing everyday life. If we had not made changes certain things would be different. Professional sports would not be the same. Many major political leaders might not be in the position they are in now. They world has changed and it is thriving. You need to wake up and see what is going on around you. The world has changed, it is time you do the same.

Sincerely

Jack Shehan

Analytical Response: C

Good Country People, a short story written by Flannery O'Connor sends a message about hypocrisy and irony. O'Connor uses these devices side-by side in some of her other short stories as well, one being Revelation. The main characters in O'Connor's stories always have a large flaw, be it physical or mental. While the main character in Revelation has a mental flaw (some form of hubris), the character in Good Country People, Joy, lives with the physical flaw of having one leg. Joy makes due with a wooden leg, which is her most noticeable feature.

The attitude that O'Connor tries to bring out is a feeling of being completely unaware of peoples' true intentions. It's like what our parents told us when we were kids, "You can't judge a book by its cover." These words hold true throughout O'Connor's story and they are reflected by the characters.

There is a young man who sells bibles who is mentally odd or quirky. His oddness can be compared to Joy's physical oddness. This man is obsessed with items that people hold dear. He is a kind of kleptomaniac for peoples' possessions that they depend on.

All-in-all this story is full of depth that could spur conversation from the mute. There is heavy irony at the end of the story which makes the reader conjure thoughts of real life applications. The main character is deserted and quite possibly has a revelation because of what the young Bible salesman does to her. If you are curious to know this act... I urge you to seek out this story and enjoy it.

Matt Cline

Good Country People Analytical Questions

1) Compare and Contrast the characters/personalities of Joy (Hulga) and the bible salesman.

2) Who is living a more false life Joy or the bible saleman?

3) What is the significance of Joy's wooden leg? After that, do we all have a wooden leg, where/what is it? Can we lose it? Do we hide it, keep it safe?

4) Why does Joy sheild herself? What defences does she create and more importantly, why?

5) Where are the moments of grace? Who/What brings that grace?

6) What is the importance/meaning of the line, "We aren't our own light." (Hint: Irony lies in the fact that Melabranche is a major Augustinian and that Hulga, her knew name, references a major athiest)

7) In Joy's book, she underlined the lines that refer to science wanting to know "nothing of Nothing." Why would she have interest in these lines?

8) The bible salesman has also stolen a glace eye. What is the significance of his creepy obsession with the weird/private aspects of the human life?

9) Does this story have more of an Augustinian or a Thomistic version of conversion? Is there Both?(Electric company with the help of God's grace or a more gradual and self driven version)

10) What roles do Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freedman play in the story? Are they catalysts or deterrent to a more fulfilling life for Joy? What effects do they have on the outcome of the story?

Creative Response b for Good Country People by O'Connor

Jack: Ms. O"Connor, are there any major themes of Christianity in this story?

O'Connor: Yes there are a couple themes of Christianity. The bible and the salesmen play key parts in this theme. They show how Christianity is always trying to find its way into our lives and sometimes it comes right up to your front door. Also the items inside the bible represent some of the mortal sins. The flask represents gluttony and the cards and condoms represent lust. There is also a sense of pride that the salesmen has after he takes women's items.


Jack: Can you explain the line: "science wishes to know nothing of nothing. Such is after all the strictly scientific approach to Nothing. We know it by wishing to know nothing of Nothing."

O'Connor: This line means that science does not know anything about God. It wishes to know how God made things but it will never find the answers. It also says that we do not want to find the answers because that will destroy our sense of purpose in life.


Jack: Does education play any role in this story?

O'Connor: Yes it does. Hulga has her PhD in philosophy. this gives her the idea that she is smarter then anyone else, that no one can fool her. She things she is smart because she beliefs knowing nothing of nothing. It all comes back to bite her when her leg is stolen and the salesmen tells her he has always believed in nothing of nothing.


Jack: Does family play a big role in this story?

O'Connor: Family has a role, but it is not that big. In this story family members are always looking out for one another. Mrs. Hopewell always says that she has very wonderful daughters. She even keeps her bible in her room so not to upset Hulga. Mrs. Hopewell is also looking out for Hulga when she invites the salesmen to stay for dinner. She hopes maybe he will take a fancy to Hulga.


Jack: What does the wooden leg represent?

O'Connor: The wooden leg represents Hulga's innocence in the real world. She thought that no one would ever steal it but it happens. After it happens she realizes that not everybody in the world is as good as they say.


Jack: Are there any characters that are vehicles of grace?

O'Connor: Yes, the salesmen help Hulga to truly find out what the real world is all about. He helps her step out of innocence into maturity. He also makes a snide comment about always believing in nothing of nothing. This show her that what she discovered in life is common and that she is not the only one.