Hulga, the protagonist of "Good Country People" has, at thirty-two, spent most of her life in school. She had a doctoral degree in philosophy, but her poor health keeps her living on a rural farm surrounded by people with little or no education. Bummer, right?
But get this: She thinks formal education automatically makes people intelligent and thinks she has nothing left to learn. So as a result, she is blind to the people around her, and sees them as mere unintelligent objects, inferiors with whom she has nothing in common. When Hulga goes out with Manley under the guise of educating him, she finds out, in a tragic way that he knows more than she thought. Way more.
Questions About Education
- Is Hulga's education a big factor in her identity? Why or why not?
- Are Mrs. Hopewell's comments concerning Hulga's education sexist? Why or why not?
- Does Hulga's education stand in the way of her relationships with the people around her, or is it an excuse to not get close?
- Would Hulga make a good teacher?
- Does anybody learn anything in this story? If so, who and what? If not, what's the point?
Chew on This
The character that learns the most in this story is Manley.
This story mocks intellectuals, and suggests that practical skills are more important than being well read.