Joy's Best Friend Character Analysis Essay

Mr. Pointer seems to be yet another good country person who is trying to make a humble living by selling bibles to good country folk like himself. On just another day of his job he is presented with the Hopewell family, an opportunity to fulfill his day job and his desires. During his interaction with the Hopewell family he is indirectly introduced to a blindly prideful woman named Joy. By taking notice of this Pointer is able to play on Joys pride by comforting her and acting as if he is an ignorant man to get what he wants.

Mr. Pointer interacts with Mrs. Hopewell and is ultimately invited inside of her house “to speak of serious things.” She brings him into the parlor and they discuss the lack of a bible. Well into their discussion Mrs. Hopewell excuses herself. “I have to check on my dinner. She went out to the kitchen and found Joy near the door where she had been listening. Get rid of the salt of the earth, she said, and let’s eat.” Immediately Joys prideful feelings are brought to light by her egotistical mindset. Mrs. Hopewell reenters the parlor and begins to speak to Manley Pointer about honesty and “real genuine folks”. “Through the crack in the door” Mrs. Hopewell hears Joy groan, Joy does

Once he sees Joy, he waits until she feels stood up to pop out, reassuring her that can she trust him. They continue walking through the pasture to the barn. On the way there Manley continues to play his con by holding “back the long swaying blades of thorn vine until she had passed beyond them.” He does this to develop a sense of comfort in her which is how he is able to get what he wants. When they reach the barn he plays on Joys pride yet again by suggesting they go to the loft but cant. Joy responds by climbing the ladder leading to it. Now that Manley Pointer has successfully isolated Joy he moves on to the last step in his plan, revealing his true self and crippling