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“Good Country People”, in terms of illustrating Christian redemption, does not hold enough significance on the topic to be cast in that light. The piece is more about how many claim to be Christians and are not or how those who abuse the title by using it loosely create hypocritical stereotypes in society. This is not a story of “redemption” but of a tale of con. Joy’s atheist beliefs are never redeemed into acceptance of God, but are instead confirmed. This “good country” man who has dazzled her with his innocence had planned from the start to steal her most valuable possession.
If anything, this illustrates that Christians are only Christian to receive the benefits of being Christian, i.e., the additional trust strangers give to people who claim to know/love God. This con also carves out the bible in order to hide his flask. The symbol of Christianity, the word of God, is revealed not as a tool of conversion and truth but rather as a false front and a tool to do an evil deed. Redemption is not the case in this story. “Good Country People” does not illustrate redemption. It more so supports Hulga’s atheist view that “We are all damned…but some of us have taken off our blindfolds and see that there’s nothing to see.” That is her “salvation” and the only redemption found in this story.
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Niko,
Glad to see you’re still putting the Thundercat pictures up! Nice blog post too! I hadn’t thought of the symbolism in the hollowed out Bible before. Not sure why, but I hadn’t. Thanks.
PS this showed up on my RSS feed…I’m not blog-stalking you!