Flannery O'Connor's “Good Country People” describes the lives of a mother, Mrs. Hopewell and her daughter, Joy, as well as the irony of their relationship. This passage from the short story exposes their character development through the details of their lives. The selected paragraph uses a neutral tone to give more information about Mrs. Hopewell and Joy. Flannery O'Connor gave 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 uses these facts to understand these women and their lives. This part of the story illustrates aspects of their lives over which they had little control. Therefore, this indirectly shows how each woman acclimated to her situation. Although genetically related and living together, Mrs. Hopewell and Joy were extremely different people. The passage relies on the setting of the story. It was written in 1955 and women were not considered equal to men like they are in contemporary times. Women had more of a domestic role, while men were educated and worked to provide for the family. At that time, a country family had religious beliefs 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 pleasure and not as serious scholars, seeking intelligence and a better understanding of the world. Joy of obtaining a doctorate. in philosophy is considered a disappointment for a woman like Hrs. Hopewell. In addition to the historical setting, the physical setting of their farm home plays a role in this story. For someone who lives in a rural area with a large acre...... middle of paper......another. As a mother, she cares for her daughter but struggles to relate to her. She could see Hulga as a teacher and Hopewell knew 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 continues to behave like a child towards her mother. Not only does she dress like a child, but she walks around the house to make sure Mrs. Hopewell and Mrs. Freeman hear her. Hulga doesn't really want her mother to understand her because she takes it out on her mother. If she really wanted her mother to realize her philosophical thoughts, she would have tried to explain it and not yell at Hopewell. Every woman has her own flaws. Works Cited O'Connor, Flannery. “Good country people.” Trans. Array A good man is hard to find. New York: Harcourt, 1995. 433-447. Print.