"Good Country People"

In the story “Good Country People” there are all types of conflict including man vs. man, man vs. self, and even man vs. society. Hulga is in conflict with almost every character in the story. Hulga purposely tries to irritate her mom by wearing the same old clothes and walking more loudly with her fake leg than necessary. Hulga is also rude to Mrs. Freemen and they make remarks at one another. Hulga also is in conflict with Pointer when he takes her fake leg and leaves her stranded in the barn. Hulga experiences conflict with herself as well. She tries to shut herself off to Pointer but eventually lets him have control by showing him how to take her fake leg on and off. Hulga is also self conscious about her leg and has become extremely educated to compensate for her physical deformity. Lastly, Hulga argues that if her leg hadn’t been taken off in a hunting accident she woke be a professor but because of her physical limitations she was then limited from society. I think Hulga’s conflict with her mother drives the story the most. I feel like Hulga talks to Pointer almost to spite her mother, as she lies to him about her age and meets up with him secretly.

The phrase “good country people” is used multiple times in the story to refer to less educated people with good intentions. Mrs. Freemen and Pointer are both mentioned as, “good country people.” Mrs. Hopewell states that these people, “are the salt of the earth” meaning that they are humble and unpretentious and the rest of the world needs them to function. This phrase becomes ironic because Pointer is clearly a con man, who wanted to come off as a poor country boy who had good intentions as he was selling bibles. However, in the barn, Pointer reveals that he doesn’t believe in the bible at all, and that he drinks and often takes advantage of women especially ones with physical deformities that he likes to steal. Pointer has no good intentions what so ever.