"Good" /// Bug Olsen

 

           The word is a staple in both of these writings, and in both instances the usage is highly ironic. O’Connor uses the term ‘good’ in these stories as something that defines what a person could be, not what the person themself actually is. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, the grandmother calls the man good based on his upbringing and potential rather than how he actually acts. The same applies to Mrs. Hopewell’s opinion of country people in “Good Country People”, in which she bases her assumptions of people on stereotypes and what she wants to believe about them, rather than what they actually are.

            The plots of both of these stories are remarkably similar, as both revolve around the irony of their titles including the word ‘good’. The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘good’ as “the most general and most frequently used adjective of commendation in English, and one of the most common non-possessive adjectives in all periods from Old English to the present day. Almost all uses convey the sense of being of a high (or at least satisfactory) quality, useful for some purpose (specified, implied, or generally understood), and worthy of approval”. Such a basic term can be subverted in many ways, and has numerous meanings based on context. O’Connor seems to be making a point about people, particularly the older generation, judging an entire group based on stereotypes and assumptions, and then living their whole lives through these biased lenses. Both titles reference a collective, these being good country people and good men, and everything in the stories are based on characters’ ignorance and stereotypes. The concept of ignorance is also extremely prevalent, particularly attacking an older, biased generation. O’Connor makes very interesting points on all levels, but the irony and subversion of goodness throughout in both stories was the most interesting to me.

I commented on Ashlyn Scism's and Josh Naqvi's posts.