Flannery O’Connor’s “Good Country People” aids in the deconstruction of formerly held stereotypical norms in the southern United States, specifically those regarding long held belief systems and societal class structures. During the postmodern period, it was popular for traditional values and beliefs to be challenged by writers, and that is definitely the aim of “Good Country People.” The narrative challenges southern tradition by breaking down common belief systems, which in turn comments on the class structure of the South at that time. Throughout the whole of the text, “Good Country People” attempts to deteriorate belief systems. More specifically, it exemplifies the fact that adherents to popular beliefs do not necessary strictly subscribe
…show more content…
Nothing- how can it be for science anything but a horror and a phantasm? If science is right, then one thing stands firm: 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, 448-449).
Despite her education, Joy-Hulga is extremely naïve, which is evidence that she is perhaps not as strict an adherent to her particular belief system as she had formerly thought. Her naivety is portrayed when she is on her date with Manley Porter. Because he is a “good country” person and a bible salesman, Joy-Hulga believes that he will be the naïve one, but she is sadly mistaken when he takes advantage of her, steals her leg, and leaves her to fend for herself:
“She gave a cry of alarm but he pushed her down and began to kiss her again. Without her leg she felt entirely dependent on him… She saw him grab the leg and then she saw it for an instant slanted forlornly across the inside of the suitcase with a Bible at either side of its opposite ends… When she turned her churning face toward the opening, she saw his blue figure struggling successfully over the green speckled lake”
Nothing- how can it be for science anything but a horror and a phantasm? If science is right, then one thing stands firm: 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, 448-449).
Despite her education, Joy-Hulga is extremely naïve, which is evidence that she is perhaps not as strict an adherent to her particular belief system as she had formerly thought. Her naivety is portrayed when she is on her date with Manley Porter. Because he is a “good country” person and a bible salesman, Joy-Hulga believes that he will be the naïve one, but she is sadly mistaken when he takes advantage of her, steals her leg, and leaves her to fend for herself:
“She gave a cry of alarm but he pushed her down and began to kiss her again. Without her leg she felt entirely dependent on him… She saw him grab the leg and then she saw it for an instant slanted forlornly across the inside of the suitcase with a Bible at either side of its opposite ends… When she turned her churning face toward the opening, she saw his blue figure struggling successfully over the green speckled lake”