“Which excerpt from O’Connor’s “Good Country People” best reveals the irony of Joy’s name?” is a question that has puzzled and intrigued literary scholars for decades. The answer lies in the text itself, and the key to understanding the irony lies in the juxtaposition of Joy’s physical and mental attributes with the traditional connotations of her name.
In the story, Joy is a young woman who is physically disabled and has a wooden leg. She is also an atheist and a Marxist, which sets her apart from the other characters in the story who are devout Christians. The irony of her name is that it suggests happiness and joy, but her life is full of pain and suffering. This irony is further highlighted by the fact that Joy’s wooden leg is a constant reminder of her disability and her inability to live a “normal” life.
