Good Country People - Essay Example

Manley narrated to Mrs. Hopewell that “he was the seventh child of twelve and that his father had been crushed under a tree when he himself was eight years old. He had been crushed very badly, in fact, almost cut in two and was practically not recognizable. His mother had got along the best she could by hard-working and she had always seen that her children went to Sunday School and that they read the Bible every evening” (O’Connor, 8). The true character of Manley was only revealed at the end of the story when he admitted that “’ I’ve gotten a lot of interesting things,’ he said.

‘One time I got a woman’s glass eye this way. And you needn’t think you’ll catch me because Pointer ain’t really my name. I use a different name at every house I call at and don’t stay nowhere long’” (O’Connor, 18). Manley concealed his real identity through falsely claiming his good nature and character and by posing as a seller of Bibles, associated as the Holy Book for Christians – even quoting some verses from it – to ultimately and completely foreshadow his dark and deceiving character.