Flannery O'Connor's use of situational irony in “Good Country People” highlights the motivations of the characters. The author uses it to provide that, I didn’t see that coming, twist of the story. Flannery O’Connor uses irony in Good Country People to give the reader a better sense of what she is trying to communicate to the reader, and show the meaning of her characters and their actions. She uses it to show that what is thought to be a “good country person” and really turns out to be a person with evil intentions. Several people, as well as objects, in this story appear to be one thing, but they are really not what they seem. The author uses characterization, religion, and the physical problems of the characters, to create this irony in
Situational irony is also found in Good Country People but with scenarios which involve Hulga expecting to seduce Manley however it turned out to be a whole twist when the Hulga and Manly was on the hay loft and Hulga was the one getting seduce and taking advantage of by a so called bible salesman and takes her leg. Irony was obvious in this story especially because of Manly unexpected behavior but in conclusion situations was not as they work out to be. Though through both stories situations yet became unexpected but lovers soon revealed their true
Flannery O’Connor’s stories always contain a flawed character that is usually crippled in a spiritual or a moral sense to embody an ongoing issue in her time through that flaw. In O’Connor’s story, “Good Country People,” the protagonist’s physical and spiritual flaws represent weaknesses in a certain movement that swept up the early-mid 20th Century: the movement of Nihilism. She invalidates Nihilism through Joy’s (who changed her name to Hulga) three physical imperfections and at her “moment of grace” in which she loses her artificial leg. Hulga has a weak heart, artificial leg, and slightly defective eyesight. While they are physical flaws, these symbolize “her emotional, intellectual, and spiritual impairments” (Oliver 234).
The fiction element, irony, is depicted throughout the story by contradicting the meaning of the word “equal.” For example, citizens like George Bergeron aren’t free to think without a loud noise, which comes from their mental handicaps, interrupting them. In contrast, citizens like
In Flannery O’Connor’s short stories, “A good man is hard to find” and “Good country people”, O’Connor utilizes multiple stylistic elements in her writing to create a complex and compelling plot line. These elements, such as moments of growing tension and resolve or relying on faith when a character experiences extreme fear, are key components that add direction and meaning to both of her short stories. Other examples such as headstrong females, like the grandmother from “A good man is hard to find” and Joy/Hulga from “Good country people”, shows how two different types of women can still have dignity despite their own faults. In short, Flannery O’Connor utilizes multiple stylistic elements in her short stories to create a meaningful and compelling tale of people from the south.
In “Good Country People”, O’Connor uses humor. The humor is found among the characters. She uses humor to create plot twists. The way the humor is set up ends in a tragic event.
Discipline is essential in raising a child. Betty Davis said, “Discipline is a symbol of caring to a child. He needs guidance. If there is love, there is no such thing as being too tough with a child... If you have never been hated by your child, you have never been a parent.”
Kurt Vonnegut, the author, uses irony to help the reader understand the way the United States could take a horrifying turn by 2081 if worldwide equality was implemented. One example of irony that the author uses is the education and IQ level of the people, which is lower than the government. The government can then control human beings with higher IQ and stronger built by giving them handicaps. Hazel and George are two representations of the two types of people in
Flannery O’Connor is an American novelist who has written over 32 short stories. She is credited with writing in the southern gothic style of writing. In “Good Country People” her gothic style is shown throughout the story in things such as the salesman’s real items he is selling. In this story there is a theme that is presented throughout that people are putting on acts instead of being who they really are. This is evident in characters such as the salesman, Hulga, and Mrs. Hopewell.
In the text, Irony is used to really create a lot of the conflicts in the
Ever wonder what a story would be like without irony, dramatic characterization, mood, tone, or setting? Without those important literary elements, there wouldn’t be a story. Within the author’s writing, different aspects play a part to find the theme of the story. Throughout the story “The Cask of Amontillado,” the author uses all three types of irony to strengthen the characters and the plot. The author’s use of dramatic characterization in the short story “Marigolds” intensifies the theme and supports the characters’ personalities.
The fact that the house continues to do its daily tasks without knowing the residents have perished is the overshadowing example of situational irony in the story. The fact that the house survived a nuclear fallout yet ends up being destroyed by a fire caused by a tree branch falling is a perfect example of situational irony in the story. Finally, the poem used by Ray Bradbury is ironic because it was one of Mrs. McClellan’s favorite poems and it happens to describe the present situation in the story. All of these examples of situational irony engage the reader in a very unique
Flannery O'Connor's stories gave the idea of what she wanted to show, which was to show humor with a violent twist. She wanted to be able to change her stories which made her write in a different way. For instance, her story “ Good Country people”, showed irony as well. There was a part where Mrs. Freeman said “ Some can't be that simple. . I know I never could.
The physical impairments of Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People" illustrate a deeper meaning of Joy-Hulga's handicaps. Joy-Hulga's heart condition, artificial leg and poor eyesight symbolize her inner impairments of emotion, intellect and spiritual capabilities. By including these impairments, it shows how Joy-Hulga really is as a person and the rationality behind what she believes in. The heart condition and artificial leg symbolize the inner emotional detachment she has to her family and herself. Mrs. Hopewell describes Joy-Hulga as "bloated, rude and squint-eyed" and even despite these characteristics, Joy-Hulga's mother still continues to show her love and compassion (O'Connor 558).
All three forms of irony are used in at least one of the four stories, including Good People, Hills Like White Elephants, Paste, and The Jewelry to make connections and add a greater meaning to their plots. Good People has situational and dramatic irony in its plot. Both Lane and his girlfriend, Sheri, are Christian, but Sheri is pregnant with Lane’s child. This is the first of two parts of dramatic irony in Good People. They are an unwed couple expecting a child.
Irony is used by New Criticism as a literary device to give the literature a sense of complexity and deviation. As seen in Texts and Contexts, one of the main characteristics that instills effective work in New Criticism is the ability to be complex, even when seeming simple (Lynn 55). In New Criticism, irony is used as a figure of speech where the speaker 's implication is partially said and partially not said, almost making the reading subjective. The two statements that the speaker have said, and not said are usually in contrast of eachother.