Final answer:
In "Good Country People," the Bible salesman is grotesque due to his deceptive nature, while Joy-Hulga is grotesque because of her physical impairment and emotionally stunted personality, both exemplifying Flannery O'Connor's use of Southern gothic elements and dark humor.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People," both the Bible salesman and Joy-Hulga are considered grotesque characters, embodying physical and psychological elements that subvert traditional notions of normalcy and propriety. The Bible salesman, Manly Pointer, presents himself as a naive and simple man, a guise that conceals his true nature as a cunning manipulator.
He is grotesque in his deception and in the way he takes advantage of Hulga's vulnerability. Joy-Hulga, on the other hand, is portrayed as a highly educated woman with a Ph.D. in philosophy, yet she is emotionally stunted and physically marked by her wooden leg, which adds to her grotesque characterization. Her cynical view of life and her attempted seduction of Manly Pointer, which backfires, only reinforce her grotesque persona. These characters exemplify O'Connor's use of Southern gothic elements and dark humor, challenging readers to examine the deeper layers of moral and existential complexity in her work.