'Good Country People And Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

In the short stories of “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, both stories have a male antagonist, Arnold Friend and Manley Pointer. They both have important roles in their stories, they prey on the two female protagonists, Hulga and Connie. Some similarities between the two characters are they both play predators in the story. They stalk their victims before ever making an approach. Manley tried to hid the fact that he knew who live in the house when greeting Hulga’s mother at the front door. In the line, “Oh!” he said, pretending to look puzzled…” Manley knew who lived there and he did his research to know that Hulga had an artificial leg. Arnold stalked Connie in order to know where she lived, when her family was out of the house, and when her family would come back. For example, “But I know what it is. I know …show more content…
Manley shared a “health condition” with Hulga. For example, “I like girls that wear glasses, he said, I like a lot. I’m not like these people that a serious thought don’t ever enter their heads. It’s because I may die.” Arnold shared a type of music that was displayed in the line, “Connie began to hear the music. It was the same program that was playing inside the house.” Arnold also dresses like the teenagers Connie hangs around to impress her and express that he is her age. Both characters have differences as well. They have different mannerism and actions about how they portray their selves. Manley is very passive aggressive. He is patient to build his “reputation” as a Bible salesman. Manley is confident in his fake identity. He spends all evening with Hulga and her mother just to be able to ask Hulga on a date. He uses his reputation later when he is leaving Hulga when Ms. Hopewell and Ms. Freeman see him. His false identity that he built allows him to escape without raising much