Irony In Flannery O Connor's Good Country People

Not all is as it Seems Flannery O’Connor, an impressive fictional writer during the 20th century, writes “it takes all kind to make the world” (O’Conner). While this may be true, Flannery O’Connor infused irony throughout her short story Good Country People that makes this quotation have a different meaning than what it looks like to an ignorant eye. By the time the 20th century rolled around, people were tired of reading books that had clear and simple plots. By using irony throughout Good Country People, Flannery O’Connor is able to supply readers with a far deeper understanding of the plot through Hulga Hopewell, Manly Pointer, and Mrs. Freeman, three of the main characters in the short story. In order to understand the irony, readers …show more content…
By looking at the irony throughout O’Connor’s Good Country People, Pointer’s future actions seem to be more predictable than ever. Arguably, Manley Pointer has the most ironic name in the whole short story (Yin 38). Pointer’s name has two ironic meanings that can explain what Manley Pointer stands for, and what his role is during the climax of the short story. (“Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor”). First of all, his last name, Pointer, simply expounds on the fact that “He was a tall gaunt hatless youth” (O’Connor). Furthermore, his first name, Manley, is ironic because while he acts like a “good country people” (O’Connor) and a very mature man, his name tells the reader that Manley Pointer only follows his poor, manly instincts such as seducing women and using them for his own pleasures (“Good Country People by Flannery …show more content…
Freeman begins to draw an explicit outline of the plot in Good Country People by Flannery O’Connor. By understanding how the irony comes together, readers can understand the true motifs and thoughts behind the characters of the story, giving readers an even more intricate understanding of the plot and the conflicts of the story. Clearly, Hulga Hopewell is too naive to the non-scientific world around her, therefore making it much easier for Manley Pointer, a lanky man who is only interested in himself, to take advantage of Hulga Hopewell. Meanwhile, Mrs. Freeman is too indulged with clichés to notice what is truly occurring behind her ingenuous life. Sooner than later, Manley Pointer is able to seclude Hulga Hopewell long enough to take advantage of her and leave her completely dependent upon other people. Mrs. Freeman remains unsuspecting, and Manley Pointer goes on his way to find another victim who is too blind to see that evil does