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