The Grotesque In Flannery O’Connor

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struggle in their daily lives to overcome their violent inner conflicts. In “Good Country People,” O’Connor begins with the grotesque description of Joy, also known as Hulga, and her missing leg. Her leg was shot off in an unfortunate hunting accident when she was only ten. For more than twenty years, she has been limping with one leg. Hulga has never experienced those things valued by others growing up; she never danced, never knew what it was like to experience “normal good times” (O’Connor 173). Joy/Hulga’s missing leg becomes the focus for a Bible selling con man who demonstrates artificial faith to get what he needs. In the end, the salesman manages to con Joy out of her prosthetic leg. The grotesque image of the man walking down the street with someone else’s prosthetic leg would frighten anyone. Mrs. Freeman, a woman Joy lives with, has a bizarre interest in the minute details of other people’s infirmities, especially children’s (O’Connor 174). She ...

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