In Flannery O’Connor’s quick story “Good Nation Folks,” irony is a prevalent literary system used to spotlight the discrepancy between characters’ perceptions and actuality. One hanging instance of irony happens when the protagonist, Mrs. Hopewell, describes her daughter, Pleasure, as a “good nation woman.” This description is ironic as a result of Pleasure is much from being a standard “good nation woman.” She is an atheist, a nihilist, and a self-proclaimed mental who rejects the values of her rural neighborhood.
The irony on this excerpt serves to underscore the advanced and infrequently contradictory nature of human character. Mrs. Hopewell’s notion of her daughter relies on her personal restricted understanding of the world, and she or he fails to acknowledge the true nature of Pleasure’s beliefs and needs. This irony provides depth to the story and invitations readers to query their very own assumptions and biases.
