Character Analysis Of Hulga In Good Country People

The main character in the short story, "Good Country People" written by Flannery O'Conner, is a thirty-two-year-old woman named Hulga. This intense character withdraws from the physical world into a world of intelligence due to a hunting accident that left her with a wooden leg. She looks down on other folks for not being highly intellectual. Manley Pointer, a bible salesman, uses Hulga's pride to profit over sexual favors and her wooden leg. I once read a quote by Denise Mina where she said, "I think the negative traits are what make us love other human beings, the foibles, and the flaws." Hulga intrigues the reader's attention by her flaws and imperfections as a character in this short story. Hulga's behavior and attitude have put her and others in situations because of her range of traits, such as being judgmental, disrespectful, and highly educated. Throughout the story, Hulga is extremely judgmental. She has become bitter and betrayed by the world, and at the sight of her surrounding, she becomes irritated. The story states “Sometimes she went for walks, but she didn't like dogs or cats or birds or flowers or nature or nice young men. She looked

When Mrs.Hopewell needed help in the fields, and her only option was Hulga's help. In the story it claims, “… when Joy had to be impressed by these services, her remarks were usually so ugly and her face so glum”(2). Hulga's attitude was unnecessary, but her mother accepted it because of her disability. Hulga knew her mother accepted her behavior because of her guilt about Hulga's wooden leg. At the dinner table with Mrs. Hopewell and Manley, it says, "Joy had given him one look on being introduced to him and then throughout the meal had not glanced at him again. He had addressed several remarks to her, which she had pretended not to hear.” (4). Hulga shows a lack of manners. She is disrespectful because the fears of letting others see her