Ethical Analysis of Hulga and the Family Relationships in Good Country People

Abstract

Good Country People is one of the representative works of Flannery O 'Connor. The heroine in the story, Hulga or Joy, is a distinct image created by the author. The adult-baby’s disability, rebellion, intertextuality, together with her self-conceit contributes to the sharpening of the special grotesque character of Hulga.This paper will explore the characteristics of Hulga, the ethical dilemma of the family relations and the ethical choice of the protagonists in the story from five aspects: the first part is an introduction; the second part briefly introduces the creation background, author background and the plot of the novel; the third part will analyze Hulga's characteristics including advocating nihilism, inferiority and blind arrogance, and then continue to discuss the reasons for the formation of her grotesque characteristics; the fourth part will analyze the ethical dilemma of the family relations; the fifth part will concern the the ethical choice of the protagonists. The conclusion will focus on some effective suggestions for the families who are suffering ethical crisis and point out that this work has a very high research value to the contemporary construction of harmonious society.