Reading the history of Flannery O'Connor has been inspiring. Her story, with the fact that she had disseminated lupus all of her life, I believe, shows her own personal connection to the emotional and physical pain of her characters. Hulga is one example, in Good Country People. But Flannery was a fighter, unlike Hulga, who did not let her physical difficulties get her down. Hulga, on the other hand, used, getting her leg blown off, as a way to justify her miserable life. She really does seem to think that nothing could be truly "good" for her anymore, but it isn't until she meets Manley Pointer however, (a Bible Salesman who tricks her into giving him her wooden leg) that her mind is made up on this.
What Hulga failed to notice about her situation, before she met Manley Pointer, was that she could have died and not just lost a leg. She refused to see the brighter side of her situation, and it caused her to be so discontented she looked for the attention that Manley seemed to give her, and her mother didn't. In so doing she was susceptible to anyone who called themselves, "a good person", and took interest in her. She was hoping to find someone who accept her, even in her disgruntled state, and she found out that what she wanted was really not what she wanted after all.
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Manley lifted the suitcase beside him with both hands. "Let's see what we can do today boys," he said, patting the suitcase as if it was some infant child, and shifting it from one hand to the other. There was a house, not far from his own, that he had seen as a prospect for months, but he had wanted to wait and see what other places would give him. The house, by itself, was not really special, but he had been told by one of his friends that the lady who lived there would not turn anyone down. "Maybe this will be just what I need?" he thought, and hoped to get there as soon as possible. Something seemed to tell him that he was going to make it today. He was glad he knew what he was doing. His mother had told him countless times how proud she was of him, and he could not find the heart to let her down. He remembered the time, when he had told her how much he hated it here, and that he was moving to the big city. She had responded with a down turned glance and a limb expression. He knew it pained her deeply to think of losing her only son, but she had realized a long time ago that he was set out to make his own decisions; whether good or bad, and knew that she hoped that he would stick with what she taught him. Deep down, she believed he had a kind heart. Manley thought hard about it for a long time, and finally came to the conclusion to stay. His mother was the only one he had left in the world. She had raised him. He hated to think of leaving her alone. Manley pushed the thoughts of his mother aside at the sight of the house, and a new energy pulsed through his veins. There were only two Bibles he had left, and at least one he hoped to sell. As the house came into view, he saw the crisp almond front with a smiling eagerness, and the brick red shutters and door, adorned with beautifully cut boxwood to frame it, with a happy allure. Manley forced a smile across his own face as he glance at the mailbox moments before approaching the door. His hand was light as he knocked; the sound of soft foot steps approaching. Something in his heart seemed to indicated that this house would be different, and he was excited to find out why. The door swung open, and Manley put on his overly happy face, "Good morning, Mrs. Cedars!"
