Good Country People Identity Quotes

Mrs. Freeman finds safety in not taking a definite stance on issues. Her noncommittal attitude keeps her safe from disagreements with Mrs. Hopewell, and from having to change her mind if she's wrong.

Mrs. Hopewell's identity as mother of a child probably negatively impacts her relationship with her daughter, and it possibly holds Hulga back from living an adult life. Hulga probably does depend on her mother for care, but that care doesn't have to be given as if to a child.

Mrs. Hopewell sees physical problems as big factors in personal identity, so Manley's identity as a sick person sways her and gets him a free meal. What we don't know is whether Manley is really sick, or if this is part of his disguise.

For someone who believes in nothing, and who has sloughed away all vestiges of vanity, Hulga is quite quick to lie about her age. Or perhaps this is an indication of how much she relies on fantasy for her identity: Notice that when she later tells Manley her "real" age, she takes off two years.

Hulga's leg is a huge factor in her identity, and it seems to have become even more important to her than the parts of her body she was born with. Her relationship with it seems to be a complicated blend of shame and deep concern.

Manley gains reader's sympathy despite his heinous acts with lines like this. This story is effective in pointing out how an identity based on looking down on others is very unhealthy.