Tristan+Vanderhorst

Flannery O’Conner wrote many short stories and the ones that we read for class, were themed in my opinion. The theme of the short stories we read in class was pain and deception. Every character in each story felt some sort of physical or mental pain or deception or both. The story that represents this theme the best is Good Country People. This short story was the ultimate story of deception and pain. Joy (Hulga) a 30 year old college graduate who has one leg because of a hunting accident she had as a young child is looking for something to make her feel whole. Manly was a 19 year old kid that sold bibles and he wondered into the life of Joy. Manly was “infatuated” by Joy so he told her that he had a serious heart condition and that he had very little time to live. Joy automatically clung to him because she saw someone who was like her. Joy who has never been kissed before in her life was very eager to feel this affection so she told Manly she was 17 which was a lie (deception). The two ended up in the barn at Joy’s house and Manly is very eager to take off Joy’s leg. She ends up taking her leg off for him because she felt comfortable around him. Manly has the leg and refuses to give it back even though Joy persists that he gives it back. Manly finally comes clean to Joy saying that he isn’t a Bible salesman and that he goes around town deceiving the innocent. The ironic thing here is that both of these characters were trying to deceive each other and the goal was ultimate pain which Joy ended up feeling because she was stuck up in her barn with no way to get down because her prostatic leg was taken. Joy was not only left deceived, hurt emotionally, she was left helpless, and alone.