Introduction
Flannery O’Connor’s proficiency in novel and story writing emerged explicitly in her characterization of the stories A Good Man is Hard to Find and Good Country People. In writing the stories mentioned above, O’Connor succinctly depicts various characters, including the grandmother and the Misfit in A Good Man is Hard to Find as static and Hulga Hopewell and Manley Pointer in Good Country People as dynamic. In both contexts, these protagonist characters emerge as associated with either dynamic or static attributes regarding their decisions, coping skills, or lack of them as well as the factors surrounding them in life. The grandmother and the Misfit seem static without changing their behaviors and personalities. On the other hand, Hulga Hopewell and Manley Pointer appear to be dynamic and easily changed by the experiences that occur in their lives. In this case, O’Connor uses grotesque characters and violent incidents in her stories, A Good Man is Hard to Find and Good Country People, to enhance her characterization and show how different characters cope with stressful events in their lives.
Active Coping Mechanisms
One of the main goals of the coping strategy is to keep a person’s psyche well and balanced. Hence, some coping skills that may be evident are detachment or disconnection from a traumatic event (Cleveland Clinic). The protagonists, the grandmother, and the Misfit, in O’Connor’s A Good Man, is Hard to Find, represent static characters whose traits and behaviors remain unchanged. Hence, their coping strategies are effective. The two experience various challenges and encounters that transform their lives. Yet, they stay intact with individual actions and views of the world.
The larger part of the story involves the grandmother and daughter’s children as well as the Misfit and his killing incidents. The grandmother appears as an evil and insensitive character led by selfish interests. Initially, she tries to control the life of Bailey and his family. When the family suggests going for a vacation in Florida, the grandmother gives a different suggestion in that the family may fall victim to the Misfit, who had escaped from prison. Instead, she suggests that the family should leave for Tennessee. However, during the trip, the family heads for Georgia until the grandmother reaches a point to realize her mistake (O’Connor, A Good Man Is Hard To Find 8). Hence, the coping skill demonstrated here is the ability to maintain caring and sustainable relationships with relatives and friends.
Eventually, the entire family turns victim to the Misfit and his team. Before she is shot in the chest, the grandmother tries to reason with the Misfit on why he should not kill her or the ladies. Essentially, the grandmother appears as a character who is constantly trying to manipulate others. Even after the death of her son’s family members, she tries to reason with the murderers to spare her or the ladies in the car (Klein 120). In addition, she chose to wear a dress and a hat with colors to look young in case of an accident. Throughout the story, she does not change her traits.
On his part, the Misfit also appears to be significantly static in his personality. Initially, he went to prison for committing a crime that he claims not to remember (Leonard 50). This represents the coping mechanism, where one’s psyche forgets the traumatic event. Factors such as mental health illnesses may contribute to such a dynamic as well. The Misfit even alleges that Jesus committed a crime during his time on earth. According to the Misfit, Jesus did not raise the dead (Leonard 49). At the same time, the Misfit and his team engage in killing the grandmother and Bailey’s family. Despite going to prison, the Misfit does not seem to change his traits. Through his appearance, behaviors, and even arguments, he depicts himself as a murderer and insensitive to the well-being of others.
Passive Coping Strategies
An example of coping skills can be seen in the short story Good Country People, where Hulga Hopewell and Manley Pointer appear as dynamic characters who welcome various changes in their lives. On her part, Hulga Hopewell is not happy with her life since a young age. Therefore, she embraces cynical, joyless, and grumpy attributes. Hulga Hopewell goes to the extent of associating her name with ugliness and uncommonness in the country. Eventually, she partly changes her name from Hulga to ‘Joy’ as a way to show her discontentment. Throughout her life, she constantly depicts dissatisfaction with the things and people around her while also treating her mother with indifferent behavior, which is a sign of a passive-aggressive coping mechanism (Chan et al. 561). Primarily, Hulga Hopewell was discontented with her body after losing one leg when she was ten (O’Connor, “Good Country People” 352). As a result, she significantly adds weight as she approaches her thirties due to the inability to perform daily exercises.
Later on, Hulga Hopewell acquires a Ph.D. in philosophy, which seems to change her approach to life and people (O’Connor, “Good Country People” 355). At this moment, Hulga embraces traits associated with pseudo-intellectualism while also turning arrogant and rude. Despite being rude and indifferent to other people, Hulga Hopewell was helplessly susceptible to Manley Pointer’s lies and tricks. As a result, while claiming to be different from others, she became a victim due to her intellectual vanity.
In the same story, Manley Pointer also appears to be a static character. Initially, Hulga Hopewell and her mother were critically convinced of their intellectual superiority. In this light, the latter did not suspect any chance of falling into duping tricks at the hands of an intellectually inferior person: Manley Pointer. After becoming familiar with the Hopewells, Manley Pointer showcases himself as a cheerful, outspoken, truthful, faithful, and humorous individual. Thus, he did not take the time to become one of Mrs. Hopewell’s favorites. To a larger extent, Mrs. Hopewell advises her daughter, Hulga, to take from Manley Pointer, who depicted the behaviors and attributes that she wished for her daughter. However, Mrs. Hopewell and her daughter did not realize that Manley Pointer was gradually learning their weaknesses. By using the Bible and discussions about God, Manley Pointer was able to convince Mrs. Hopewell and later Hulga (“Good Country People” 356). In this light, Hulga appears to have changed her initial disbelief in God and her indifferent approach to others, including her mother and Manley Pointer. Nonetheless, Manley Pointer seems cunning as he uses Mrs. Hopewell to get to her daughter and to obtain what he wants.
Conclusion
Hence, the stories by Flannery O’Connor contain many traumatic events that the characters go through. Therefore, the coping skills depicted by the characters are diverse and interesting, as they have to face severe stress. In the story, A Good Man is Hard to Find, both the grandmother and the Misfit appear to be static and without any significant experiences which change their personalities and traits. The grandmother can maintain her relationships with relatives and friends and engage in negotiations in a life-or-death situation. On the other hand, in the story, Good Country People, Hulga/Joy Hopewell, and Manley Pointer appear to be dynamic by allowing various significant events and occurrences such as education and individual interests to change their attributes and personalities. Hence, they demonstrate a proactive approach to their coping mechanisms.
Works Cited
Chan, Isabelle Yee Shan, Mei-yung Leung, and Qi Liang. “The Roles of Motivation and Coping Behaviors in Managing Stress: Qualitative Interview Study of Hong Kong Expatriate Construction Professionals in Mainland China.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol. 15 no. 3, 2018, 561.
Cleveland Clinic. “Stress: Coping with Life’s Stressors.” Web.
Klein, Sandra Jacoby. “Coping and Survival Skills.” Heavenly Hurts. Routledge, 2018. 119-136.
Leonard, Douglas Novich. “Experiencing Flannery O’Connor’s” A Good Man Is Hard to Find”.” Interpretations, 1983, pp. 48-54.
O’Connor, Flannery. “Good Country People: [Selections from the short story].” Academic Medicine vol. 91 no. 3, 2016, 352.
O’Connor, Flannery. A Good Man Is Hard to Find. New English Library, 1962.