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“Good Country People”: The Cal king Dragons of Image and Language “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor explains to the story of a thirty-two yr old handicapped girl originally named Joy but later Hulga with a PhD in beliefs. Towards the end of the account, the apparently intelligent and cunning Hulga is seduced by a supposedly simple, trusting, and innocent-looking Bible store assistant by the name of Manley Pointer.
Just as Revelations, it is possible to see the dual dragons of image and language working together to convince in this tale. Specifically, the twin dragons as characterized using discussion spoken by Hulga and Manley produce a sense of individualism, maturity, and control over personal fortune; however , just Manley owns these attributes, while Hulga is under the illusion that she will. Also, the moment used by the author, the dual dragons’ message to the target audience is one among human collectiveness, vulnerability, and simplicity. As one example, both dragons are utilized by simply Hulga once she uses her philosophical knowledge to persuade the Bible sales person of her superior comprehension of the world.
In the barn, Manley Pointer tries to drive the conversation to his advantage; however , she’s able to withstand his attempt: “‘We are all damned’, she said, ‘but some of us have taken off our blindfolds to see that there’s nothing to see” (674). The legless lady chooses to use the word “damned” in an attempt to better connect to Manley Pointer’s religious language. Additionally , Dorothy Tuck McFarland points out in her essay “On ‘Good Region People'” the blindfold confession does not encourage her, nevertheless actually displays “Hulga’s surrender to love”(1054) which “makes her vulnerable to a revelation of her personal blindness” (1054).
I agree with McFarland’s assertion because the even more Hulga covers herself, the greater she discloses information which can be used against her. In addition , the girl’s use of the blindfold image serves as a tool to differentiate herself in a great way via others whom are boring sheep of a flock; she actually is different, better, all-knowing and some are obnoxious. The author’s intention this is to show, simply by appealing to Hulga’s ethos, the negative propensity for humans to see their qualities within a false positive light and highlight all of them for others to become impressed.
It is currently clear that after the dragons of graphic and language are employed by the character Hulga in such a case, it is to present herself as strong and unique inside the eyes of Manley Pointer. In an ironic twist, O’Connor uses the dragon of language with dialogue caused by Hulga to provide her entirely differently than the lady presents their self: naive and weak. Because Pointer uncovers his authentic self, the girl realizes that she has been tricked, her demeanor changing drastically: “Her voice when ever she spoke had an practically pleading appear. ‘Aren’t you’, she murmured.
Aren’t you merely a good country people? “(675). All of her former morals along with her self confidence are destroyed in an instant, which is pointed out by terms such as “pleading” and “murmured”. Not being able to feed life with an organized step-by-step method because of her physical condition, Hulga’s social and love existence stand about fragile footings, and this is why her emotions eclipse her academics and philosophical intellectualism which in turn ironically blindfolds and so promotes the girl into developing a false impression of Manley Pointer’s chasteness.
The author is definitely using the dragon of terminology to convince the reader in the girl’s fragile nature, reflecting of the true mental weakness of human beings in contemporary society on a larger scale; most of the people believe they can be in control of their particular destinies, but in reality, they cannot even be selected if the sunshine will rise tomorrow. An identical distinction could be made between the presentations of another persona, Manley Pointer, by the creator versus by Manley himself. When presenting him, the writer uses the dragons of image and language to create a simple, blameless, and common-looking country boy, traits which will enable him to earn Mrs. Hopewell’s trust.
Just before dinner is ready on the lady’s home, this noticeable Bible sales person shows up at her door trying to convince to buy bibles: “Well lady, I’ll let you know the truth – not many people want to buy 1 nowadays and besides, I know I’m genuine simple. I actually don’t discover how to say a specific thing but to claim it. I’m just a nation boy” (667). In these lines, the boy appears as though he features almost abadndoned selling cryptogramme and becomes himself in a submissive stalwart in order to give Mrs. Hopewell a sense of control of him and their discussion.
The salesman appeals to cast which makes the girl lower her guard; however , he is continue to not successful until he plays with her thoughts when he describes his heart condition: “I have this heart condition. ” (668). This approach is effective mainly because “he and Joy acquired the same state! “(668); for this reason, Mrs. Hopewell’s trust is definitely won and he is provided a free meal alongside Hulga. Dorothy Stick McFarland states that the image of naivety the county son creates makes the girl think “that this individual offers zero threat with her and permits herself as a solution to his open admiration” (“On ‘Good Country People'”1053).
Therefore , McFarland sees the boy’s ingenious persona as a tool to cause Hulga to reveal her affection the same way the salesman misleadingly manifests his. We would add even more that his persona of innocence and simplicity would not only get her focus but at some point wins the girl’s trust and her heart as well. Regardless of McFarland’s or others’ interpretations, the twin dragons used by mcdougal intentionally persuade the reader that folks on a societal scale are basic and submissive by turning our awareness of Pointer’s aura of stability which creates no menace and makes trust.
Within a similar ironic twist of presentation as experienced by means of Hulga, Manley Pointer’s power of character is all of a sudden revealed after in the tale. Images and languages support reveal his true id and his real beliefs, displaying his individualism, manipulation more, and power over his personal existence. After the Bible salesman shows his true colors, the woman tries to persuade him that he is just another Christian; yet , Pointer turns her up when he echoes his head: “I desire you don’t think, “…”that I believe in that crap! I might sell Cryptogramme but I realize which end is up and i also wasn’t created yesterday and I know exactly where I’m going! (675).
The boy’s previous beliefs happen to be compared to the solid word “crap” which shows that being officially educated in philosophy is usually not in order to to deny God and religion generally speaking. The holy book salesman’s terminology changes via what was previously submissive and humble discussion to what is now an strengthened, angry, and insulted one particular, suggesting that it can be wiser to become skeptical not merely with apparently trashy persons but also with the faithful and simple country ones for the reason that latter may actually be one of the most proficient backstabbers.
Through is own make use of the stated images and language, Tip reveals that even “good country people” can be ingenious, unique, and surprising even when it comes to using the thoughts of the apparent intellectuals. Because was required for the case of Hulga, mcdougal puts these types of words in Manley’s mouth area to convince the reader that whenever people prove, they focus on their talents, uniqueness, and control of their particular destinies. It really is interesting to find out that the big difference between an initial impression and an specific evaluation of a character has manifested on its own in two ways in this story, as we have found.
Hulga is definitely transformed by author coming from a know-it-all to a confused, insignificant dot. On the other hand, Tip is changed from the latter to the past. The twin dragons of image and language when used by Hulga make her look solid on the outside, nevertheless the same dragons show her accurate inner weakness when employed by the author. More over, the dragons of image and vocabulary used by mcdougal for Manley Pointer generate him show up weak on the outside, but when used by Pointer him self show his true internal strength.
In the long run, O’Connor uses the cal king dragons to help her very own thesis with the disappointing fact of being human.
