"Good Country People" Analytical Response D: Irene Kearney

The comparison of Joy/ Hulga Hopewell, the protagonist of “Good Country People”, to the protagonist Mrs. Turpin of “Revelation” is a very interesting one. The attitudes and situation of either woman would disgust the other, as each have very different ideas of worth and propriety. However, both women are alike in that they think they know the truths of their world and all the people in it, until a “slap in the face” experience makes them rethink their perception of the status quo.

Although they come from the same southern background, the out-spoken and ever-faithful Mrs. Turpin contrasts greatly in comparison to the bitter and atheistic Hulga. Although both see themselves to have great insight into the character of others neither would appreciate the others’ personality or views. Very like Hulga’s mother in her education, gossip, prejudice, and ideas about those who are handicapped in any way, Mrs. Turpin seems the kind of person that Hulga would hate (especially at the beginning of the story although eventually finds herself being like her mother and Mrs. Turpin when she is surprised at the bible salesmen for not acting the way a good country person stereotypically does). And Hulga, to Mrs. Turpin, would seem the “Mary Grace type”, educated but unexplained, unpleasant and unappreciative of what the Lord has given them. However Hulga’s shutting herself off from God and Mrs. Turpin’s marinating in her idea of religion and goodness, make them more similar than they would seem.

Both women are alike in their hypocritical lifestyles, and while each claims to know herself well (and everyone around her) they are confronted by their hypocrisies and by the emptiness of their personalities and uncertainty in any of their beliefs when they are awakened to some revelation through a “slap in the face” bizarre encounter with a stranger (For Mrs. Turpin, when she is attacked by Mary Grace, for Joy when her leg is stolen). Hulga’s realizes her whole distance from humanity and bitterness toward people left her hurt and insecure, and although she had been previously certain and almost cocky in her uncanny understanding of all people she finds exceptions in her stereotypes, revealing hurt, loneliness, and an acknowledgement that the same uneducated prejudices she sees and hates in her mother are exhibited in herself as well. Mrs. Turpin comes to see that her loud piety and self-righteousness blinds her to the reality of her negative, condescending, and unholy lifestyle.

So while on a superficial level the characters of Joy/Hulga and Mrs. Turpin may seems very different, in fact they are very alike in their misconceptions and hypocrisies.