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Good Country People By Flannery O Connor Analysis

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Many people hold destructive opinions without considering their full implications. “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor is a short story about Mrs. Hopewell and her daughter Hulga, and the tragic consequences of their misconceptions about the world. The importance of challenging one’s common convictions and the dangers that can arise from being narrow-minded is carried by the mother’s dissatisfaction of diversity and women’s education. The devastation of both women implies a sense of desired moderation in the realm of perspective, depicting evils of nihilism as well as the vulnerability of narrow-minded, traditional thought. O’Connor’s purposeful use of point of view allows her to develop characters in order to criticize the blindness of human nature. …show more content…
It lets the reader see the blindness of multiple characters by painting a complex characterization of each of the characters rather than just one. Early in the story, O'Connor demonstrates that Mrs. Hopewell's life is governed by upbeat but empty sayings, “Nothing is perfect. This was one of Mrs. Hopewell's favorite sayings. Another was: that is life! And still another, the most important, was: well, other people have their opinions too. She would make these statements … as if no one held them but her " (O’Connor 2). Her statements are vague and obvious as to be almost meaningless. This jumble of platitudes shows the mother’s simplicity and highlights her one-track mind. That she fails to recognize these as clichés suggests how little time she spends reflecting on her own beliefs. Mrs. Hopewell’s inherent nature is to believe in the good of everyone, hence the name “Hopewell,” but it is this blind belief that prevents her from recognizing

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