Good Country People Character Analysis

In a society where individuals put on a mask to hide their true identity, the same masks also obscure one’s vision. Written by Flannery O’Connor, “Good Country People” explores the lives of four characters who have different backgrounds and specific traits spanning from intense manipulation to outward rejection of others opinions. By utilizing an omniscient narrator and developing the four different characters in “Good Country People”, Flannery O’Connor displays how regardless of the background one comes from, one can harbor a sense of superiority through varying perceptions he may have: a perception of purpose, perception of manipulation, perceptions of society, and perceptions of intelligence.
The perception of purpose Mrs. Freeman gives …show more content…
The different perceptions one may have of others can lead to disdain, deceit, and arrogance in society as displayed by the characters in “Good Country People”. By further developing her characters and revealing their inner thoughts through an omniscient narrator, author Flannery O’Connor conveys the message of superiority complexes stemming from the many perceptions one may possess such as self-purpose perceptions, manipulative perceptions, societal perceptions, and intelligence perceptions, no matter the background one may come from. In modern times, the way people portray themselves on social media often differs from their true character in person, illustrating how outward perception of others and oneself can lead to a desire for popularity or superiority. “Good Country People” proves relevant to one's understanding of how people can manipulate others. Today, scam artists serve as a prime example. Practically, individuals can apply O’Connor’s messages and humbly mature by understanding how arrogance can lead one into the traps of manipulation. One must be humble and confident but true to oneself. Relevant to society today, seeing others in a condescending way will only inhibit one’s ability to recognize their own true nature; “Good Country People” demonstrates how negative of an impact it can cause on oneself with four different characters throughout the course of the