Good Country People - Flannery O'Connor - Analysis and Review

Good Country People by Flannery O'Connor is the most disturbing story in Southern Gothic Horror. This 1955 story shows Flannery's mastery of the things that unsettle us and make us vulnerable. She does this not through shock and gore, but with characters who seem like they live just around the corner from you.
In this video, we discuss the innocence, evil, comedy, and nihilism of Flannery's dark, amorphous characters. Even though the setting is in the 50s, Good Country People could very well play out today. As such, we discuss this story with a modern lens. This includes exploring the apparent asexuality in the story, which may have been taboo at the time of writing.
Good Country People, the story, is right here if you haven't read it yet: • Good Country People - ...
As you watch, think about yourself as a prism, and the story is a light passing through. Every prism has its own blemishes and flaws, so you have a unique perspective on it just by hearing it! Would love to hear your thoughts on Good Country People in the comments.
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Music & Performance: Chris Hemphill
Editing and Direction: Stephen Gaudet

[@emmabuker9138]

Your video was very helpful! Not only is it informing, but its also entertaining. I love how you add comedy to this dark story. You have such a captivating energy that it keeps me interested. Thank you!

[@musiquemacabre]

Thank you! Feedback like that keeps us hyped to do more!

[@Vagran]

Somethings are pretty obvious when you sit down and think about them but I miss them on the first pass. This was pretty helpful to watch after listening to your dynamic reading.

[@musiquemacabre]

Thank you! In covering this, I threw in many things that struck me about the story personally. This is separate from what Flannery may have been thinking. It’s funny how one’s writing can hit people in ways they didn’t intend, especially for audiences from different times.

[@doodlesmarkus]

Stumbled onto your page. So glad I did.🖤 Amazing work.

[@musiquemacabre]

Appreciate your kind words!

[@kathbrant]

You have piqued my curiosity...This reminds me of a project I did in college many years ago. As a drama major we called the performance dramatic interpretation and then had to submit a paper on the piece of literature. I hope you got a good grade.

[@musiquemacabre]

I hope everyone who watches this gets a good grade 😂

[@FutureNurse2025]

Thank you so much! Awesome to watch and informative!

[@musiquemacabre]

Thank you, all just for fun!

[@VonDecoy.]

Jus' a lil' snack for the youtube algorithm before I head onto your next video.

[@musiquemacabre]

You’re out here doing God’s work on this algo 🫡 THANK YOU

[@ShubertReads]

Great stuff! What camera/mic are you using? Looks & sounds great

[@musiquemacabre]

Thank you! In this video I’m using a Rode lapel mic and a Panasonic LUMIX G7 camera

[@SandfordSmythe]

A very interesting author to read.

[@musiquemacabre]

Strongly agree, especially engaging for folks who live in the south

[@christinageras757]

Thank you!!

[@musiquemacabre]

🙏

[@razzles5338]

This was hilarious and entertaining. But I disagree with you about Freeman and Hopewell "saying something insulting towards black people". If them saying "He must have been selling them to the Negroes back in there" is considered insulting, then you either read the sentence wrong or you are dealing with some underlying insecurity issues. And I mean this in the most genuine and nicest way possible.

[@razzles5338]

@@musiquemacabre Where is the slight though if you don't mind me asking? It surely can't be the "He was so simple" line because it was referring to the white Bible salesman. And it isn't the term "negroes" because that was a normal term then and it is a normal term now.

[@musiquemacabre]

If you think 'negroes' is a normal, polite term, I'm just going to advise you to be extremely careful how and when you say it. It may have gone well back in the 50s, but it wouldn't be okay today. However, even if Ms. Freeman had used the term, "Black people" or even "BIPOC", her statement raises major side-eye. Before sharing my thoughts, I imagined her saying that to me. It would not sit well. There wasn't any reason for her to bring up race unless there's some additional context she was trying to communicate. She immediately juxtaposes that talking about how simple she thought Manley Pointer was. From there, take what you know about 1950s rural Georgia, and conclude what you will.

[@razzles5338]

@@musiquemacabre Ok, so I was right. You have some underlying insecurity issues. If Negro is a bad term then why do we have an association called the "United Negro College Fund"? Which was named, ran, controlled, and funded by black people.

[@musiquemacabre]

We have the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) too, but if you go around saying ‘colored people’, it simply won’t go well for you. You’re defending a fictional character from an author who has literally said, “I don’t like negroes.” I’m sure you have your reasons for admiring Ms. Freeman, but I’ve gotta tell you, there are better hills to die on.

[@razzles5338]

@@musiquemacabre Show me where she said that in those exact words. I'll be waiting.

[@FutureNurse2025]

I think she was only interested in physical intimacy to prove she was so intelligent she could overcome it, as if it were a weakness

[@musiquemacabre]

That adds to the many examples of smugness on her behalf. That’s definitely an angle to consider!

[@otonielb]

good vid

[@musiquemacabre]

Glad you enjoyed!!!

[@water2chick]

The last two seconds 💀💀 You know

[@musiquemacabre]

Haha, I make these videos because I love the stories, but if that’s helping someone with their homework 🤘🏾by me!

[@jakejongebloed6783]

I think that you’re dramatizing the story a little bit. I believe it was initially supposed to be a bit comedic. Her leg being stolen at the end of the story is a morbidly funny moment.

[@musiquemacabre]

The story is hilarious in many places, but I didn’t think that about the leg stealing scene. However it hit you is valid, though