The Dangers of Education /// Emma Landry

    Both of O'Connor's stories were chilling to read. I noticed a common theme of disastrous situations that could have been avoided if the respective characters simply employed the use of common sense and thought of someone other than herself. "Good Country People" is the one that really caught my attention. From the start, Joy/Hulga is a very unlikable character. On one hand, I can understand her frustration over feeling limited and stuck in the same place because her disability holds her back. I can also grasp that she feels misunderstood and that she cannot truly enjoy or relate to the people with whom she is surrounded as she has had new and exciting experiences through higher education. She has been exposed to and has developed viewpoints that do not align with the country people in her circle, especially evidenced by her mother's reaction to the content in the science book as "some evil incantation in gibberish" (p. 277). It is clear that Hulga would flourish better in a different environment, but she is wrong in holding those around her in such disdain and treating them so rudely. She is so eaten up by resentment for her station in life that she is only concerned with her own selfish feelings. Hulga's downfall at the end of the story results from a combination of naivete from her mother sheltering her/regarding her as a child and her own arrogance. 

    With her doctorate, Hulga does not see those around her as true peers or as threats to her intelligence. Growing tired of what she clearly views as absurd routine conversation between her mother and Mrs. Freeman, she slams doors to indicate what she truly thinks about the things that are important to them. However, lacking experience in the world since her college days, Hulga does not possess a healthy fear of things that have the potential to harm her. I also believe that despite her seeming inability to be impressed by anything, Hulga has grown lonely. Once something fresh and new enters her otherwise monotonous daily life, she is eager for companionship in the form of the "Bible salesman." Because of this, she begins to let her guard down, and she has zero suspicions of less-than-savory intentions when the rendezvous between the two is initially planned. Sadly, she is all head knowledge without having a grain of common sense.

 I believe Hulga's attitude and experiences serve as a reminder for readers that education is not the pinnacle of living a full life. If one has a degree without learning important life skills/gaining street smarts or endeavoring to interact respectfully and lovingly with one's fellow human as well, that education is worth nothing. I know that I would rather form a friendship with someone who is a high school dropout and treats everyone with kindness and understanding than with a person with a Ph.D. who is entirely full of themselves and looks down upon others who are different or less educated. I believe that this story can serve as a lesson to those of us in honors to never disparage those in "regular" classes. Honors courses are enriching and worthwhile, but that does not matter if I were to develop a haughty attitude. I say all this because I know that I had moments of temptation in high school when I might have begun to think I was smarter and better because I was in the "smart" classes (AP, etc.). I had to rebuke this line of thinking and replace it with Christlike thoughts. Unfortunately, Hulga does not think this way, and her habit of self-elevation leads to terrible consequences. I honestly do not feel very sorry for her, though, especially when she calls the "salesman" a "poor baby" and says that "it's just as well [he doesn't] understand (p. 288). Education can lead to dangerous self-perceptions if one does not closely observe oneself.

I commented on Emmett Bryant and Emily Thullesen's posts.