Essay On Good Country People

Joy Hopewell is the opposite of her own name. The joyless, hopeless leading lady in “Good Country People” changed her name at the age of twenty-one to Hulga Hopewell. To readers and to everyone but Hulga’s mother, Mrs. Hopewell, sees this name change as much more appropriate regarding Hulga’s persona. As a woman with a Doctorate of Philosophy, or Ph.D., there is not much that Hulga thinks she doesn’t know about the ways of the world, especially the senselessness of the human race. However, not until the charming, good country boy Manley Pointer shakes the world of Hulga Hopewell does she realize that even the best can be beat at their own game. Due to Manley Pointer, Hulga Hopewell learns the valuable lesson of humility after she is left abandoned and immotile at the top of a far away barn. Hulga has several reasons to believe that having a Ph.D. gives her the ability to know everything. With a doctorate in philosophy, Hulga thinks she can see through the infallibility of the human race, especially being from a secluded town where only a handful would have an educational degree. Even Mrs. Hopewell doesn’t understand the purpose of Hulga having a degree when she says, “you could not say ‘My daughter is a philosopher’. That was something that had ended with the Greeks and Romans” (441). Coming from a southern background where …show more content…
Due to Hulga’s lack of experience with others, the special attention that Manley gives her easily causes her to become vulnerable. The more attention or kisses Manley gives her the more her dream of seducing him comes into play. However, as Hulga thinks she is fooling Manley, he’s actually making her more vulnerable in order for his trick to work. Manley makes comments such as “I love you” and saying “what makes you different” to coax Hulga even more (#). These sly but believable comments are how Manley finally gets his way with stealing Hulga’s wooden

Show More

Essay Hulga in “Good Country People”

Good Country People Essay examples