Southern gothic literature is a genre of Southern literature that became popular in the 1940s-1960s and is inspired by gothic writing of the eighteenth century. This genre primarily focuses on themes of darkness or imprisonment. In these stories, there is often times dark humor, broken down towns, plantations, and mentally unstable characters. Author, Flannery O’Connor is an important voice in American literature who has written a few short stories using the Southern gothic style. Her work is inspired by her personal life. She is a believer of the Catholic faith and a true southerner, born in Savannah, Georgia and raised in Milledgeville, Georgia. She was born in 1925, right in the middle of the roaring twenties, a great time for many Americans…show more content… Hopewell lives with her daughter Joy and maid, Mrs. Freeman. Mrs. Hopewell hired the Freemans four years ago. Mrs. Freeman’s now deceased husband was a farmer while Mrs. Freeman tended to the family’s home. The Freeman’s have two daughters who are mentioned briefly, Glynese and Carramae. “Joy called them Glycerin and Caramel” (482). Throughout this story, we learn how Joy has a weak heart and wears a fake leg due to the fact that she lost her leg in a hunting accident. These factors have an impact on the negative attitude she portrays. Joy changes her name to Hulga when she was twenty-one. “Mrs. Hopewell was certain that she had thought and thought until she had hit upon the ugliest name in any language” (483). It is clear that Joy lacks self-confidence. One day there was a knock on the door and when Mrs. Hopewell opened it, there was a young boy who introduces himself as Manley Pointer and later tells them that he is nineteen years old. Mrs. Hopewell welcomes him into her house even though she was in the middle of cooking dinner like a good ole’ country person would. The boy is very persuasive but Mrs. Hopewell still doesn’t buy a Bible. She does however invite him to stay for dinner after learning that he has the same heart condition as Joy and how “people like to fool with good country people like me [him]” (486). Manley watches Hulga during dinner and later makes plans to meet with her the next day. O’Connor uses Hulga as a broken character to expose truths in Southern culture. Hulga is both physically and mentally broken. Physically, we know that she has a heart condition which most likely will not allow her to live past forty and a fake leg. Mentally, she is constantly around her mother and Mrs. Freeman who look at her as a grouch. Hulga is not really able to have a normal
