Joy-Hulga from “Good Country People” by Flannery O'Connor and Dee-Wangero from “Everyday Use” by Alice Walker are strong protagonists who share similar motivations and characteristics . Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero both change their names in an attempt to change themselves. Both share comparable motivations and reasoning for changing their names. Likewise, Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero act selfishly as they try to escape something from their past. Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero both distance themselves from their mothers as they search for their authentic inner selves. Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero hide from past childhood events, both consciously and unconsciously. Although their motivations and characteristics are similar, their backgrounds and heritage are extremely different. Joy-Hulga and Dee-Wangero share the same reason and reasoning for changing their names, to gain autonomy while changing themselves. Joy changes her name to Hulga because it is as ugly as her character and completely opposite to her given name. Joy-Hulga is not only trying to make her mother angry, but she is also trying to change herself. When Joy-Hulga turns twenty-one, she immediately leaves home and changes her name in an “attempt to redirect her life,” without telling her mother until she does so (Feeley 236). Joy changes her name to Hulga, which Mrs. Hopewell is sure she chose only because it was the “ugliest” name she had encountered “in any language” (O'Connor 190). Joy initially chooses the name Hulga because of “its ugly sound,” but then perceives it as one of her “great triumphs” (190). Joy-Hulga successfully changes her name, displeases her mother, and recovers. Instead, Dee changes her name to Wangero to rebel against her heritage and… the center of the paper… and the drama. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. 6th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 2137-2138. McCarthy, John F. "Human Intelligence versus Divine Truth: The Intellectual in the Works of Flannery O'Connor." English Newspaper 55.9 (1966): 1143-1148. JSTOR. Network. November 22, 2011.O'Connor, Flannery. “Essays and letters on 'good country people'” Literature: reading fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. 6th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 233-234. O'Connor, Flannery. “Good country people.” Literature: reading fiction, poetry and theatre. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. 6th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 188-201.Walker, Alice. "Daily use." Literature: reading fiction, poetry and theatre. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. 6th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 743-749.Wrestling, Louise. "The Mothers and Daughters of Flannery O'Connor." Literature of the Twentieth Century 24.4 (1978): 510-522. JSTOR. Network. November 22. 2011.