“Good Country People” by Flannery O'Connor describes the life of a mother, Mrs. Hopewell, and her daughter, Joy, and the irony of their relationship. This passage of the story exposes their character development through the details of their lives. The selected paragraph uses a matter-of-fact tone to provide more information about Mrs. Hopewell and Joy. Flannery O'Connor provided an objective account of the story, which makes the third-person narrator a reliable source. Mrs. Hopewell's feelings are given to her daughter to examine their relationship. It is the reader who takes these facts to create an understanding of these women and their lives. This part of the story illustrates aspects of their lives over which they had little control. Therefore, it indirectly shows how each woman has adapted to her own circumstance. Although genetically related and living together, Mrs. Hopewell and Joy were extremely different people. The passage is based on the setting of the story. It was written in 1955 and women were not seen as equal to men as they are in contemporary times. Women had more of a domestic role, while men were educated and worked to support the family. At that time, a country family had religious valves that Joy did not follow, unlike her mother. Mrs. Hopewell did not appreciate Joy's success in her education. She believed that girls went to school for fun and not as serious scholars, seeking intellect and a greater understanding of the world. Joy gets a Ph.D. in Philosophy is seen as a disappointment for a woman like Hrs. Hopewell. In addition to the historical setting, the physical setting of their home on the farm also plays an important role in this story. For someone who lives in a rural area with endless acres… middle of paper… another. As a mother, she cares for her daughter but struggles to relate to her. He could see Hulga as a teacher and Hopewell knows that she wanted to leave home. To compensate for their relationship and Hulga's condition, Mrs. Hopewell treats her like a child. Hulga is an educated woman but still acts like a child when it comes to her mother. Not only does she dress like a little girl, she walks around the house to make sure Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman hear her. Hulga actually doesn't want her mother to understand her because she lashes out at her mother. If he really wanted his mother to realize his philosophical thought, he would have tried to explain it and not yelled at Hopewell. Every woman has her flaws. Works Cited O'Connor, Flannery. "Good country people." Trans. Array A good man is hard to find. New York: Harcourt, 1995. 433-447. Press.