Irony is the use of words to mean the opposite of what they seem to say. It is a form of expression that most people have come across many times in their lives.
Irony is very prevalent in literature, especially in novels and short stories. Literary irony can be found in everything from setting to character names to what happens in a story.
There are several types of literary irony, and each one appears in different parts of a story. Some examples include:
situational irony , when what happens contradicts what would normally happen under similar circumstances;
, when what happens contradicts what would normally happen under similar relatives irony , when what someone says is the opposite of what they mean; and
, when what someone says is the opposite of what they mean:// O’Connor frequently uses situational and symbolic irony. Her short story “Good Country People” contains examples of both kinds of irony.
Symbolism in the story
Another element that O’Connor uses in her stories is symbolism. Many objects, people, and situations are not what they seem in her works.
She uses symbolism to reveal something deeper about the story or to expose the hidden fears and prejudices of her characters. In some cases, the symbols are very obvious, while in others, you have to pay close attention to detect them.
The most obvious symbol in “Good Country People” is the donkey that Hopey gives Hulga. At first glance, this may seem like a nice gesture; however, it represents Hulga’s lack of intelligence.
On top of that, donkeys are known for being stubborn. This symbol reveals something about Hulga: she is not going to change her beliefs or opinions because she is stubborn.
Character flaws
In this excerpt, O’Connor uses the character’s flaws to create irony. Hulga is a striking woman who is physically beautiful, but she believes she is “ugly inside.”
She believes this due to the fact that she does not have faith in God. Because of this, she feels as though she has no value. She also feels as though she has no value because her brother and mother depend on her for support.
By making Hulga feel as though her entire being is worthless, O’Connor sets up the situation for dramatic irony. The reader knows that Hulga actually has great worth, but she does not know this…
The use of dramatic irony in this excerpt creates a sense of humor. The reader knows that Hulga is not ugly on the inside or outside, but she believes that she is. This makes the situation funny because of how serious she is about it.
The Bible
In O’Connor’s story, Mrs. Hopewell gives Hulga a Bible that she previously received as a gift. Hulga does not have much use for the Bible, and when she finds out that Mrs. Hopewell gave it to her because she thought Hulga was too stupid to read it, she throws it into the coal bin.
This scene contains an example of irony. The reader can tell that the gift of the Bible is meant as a kind gesture, but Hulga does not see it that way. She feels like she is being judged for her disability and lack of religious affiliation, so she rejects the gift.
The fact that Hulga later throws the Bible in the coal bin indicates that she no longer has any use for it either way. The gift was not well-received, which makes this instance of irony tragic.
Irony in the story
Irony is defined as a situation that is the opposite of what is expected. In literature, irony is used to describe a situation where what happens is the opposite of what is said.
In O’Connor’s Good Country People, many instances of irony occur. The first instance of irony occurs when Hulga delivers her speech about how she does not love anyone except herself and her brother and how she does not want to share anything with anyone.
As Hulga makes this speech, she does not realize that she has been giving away pieces of herself to people who need them. She gives her feet to a man who needs them, she gives her brother love, and she gives people hope.
Even though Hulga does not realize this, the reader can see that these are things that she has given away, making the situation ironic.
The character Hulga is a complete misfit who cannot fit into normal society
In this story, Hulga is the main character, and she is very unlikeable. She is cynical and mean, and she does not care about other people.
She also believes that she is better than other people, which is a huge sign of egoism. Even when she gets saved at the end of the story, she does not show any kind of remorse for her actions.
O’Connor uses this character to demonstrate how even the most anti-social people can be pulled into religion. Even though Hulga does not care about anyone else or believe in God, she gets pulled into the church because it is what’s expected of her by society.
By using irony in this piece, O’Connor shows that even the least religious person can be brought back to God due to social expectations.
