Comparing Life You Save May Be Your Own 'And The Geranium'

American Gothic is a type of literature originating from the Southern Gothic movement that deals with works of dark themes with disturbed settings, characters and the techniques of narration used in them. The following are some of the characteristics of Southern Gothic literature that are evident in Flannery O’Connor’s writings. From this discussion, it is clear that elements from the two stories “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” and “The Geranium” support the argument as to how the subjects of both the stories, isolation, and alienation, redemption, and degeneration of mankind as a species are well elaborated. All these are pointers to the fact that the genre is gradually developing dark themes. The presence of similar themes of isolation

The farm where Mr. Shiftlet meets with the Craters is described as barren and isolated, reflecting the nature of Saldivar 2 Shiftlet's character and loneliness. Connor uses vivid imagery of the “desolate spot”, “passed over everything in the yard-the pump near the corner of the house”’ (page 1), and the other features that emphasize the loneliness that shrouds Shiftlet, Mrs. Crater, and Lucynell. The setting strengthens the feeling of loneliness and the sense of being cut off from the world, which mirrors the characters' internal isolation. The alienation is thus not only geographical, but also

Old Dudley, a southern man who relocated to New York and is surrounded by Black people, opposes prejudice issues in his mind about Black people. Their crude language and racist behavior summarize the Saldivar 5 note of segregation and color discrimination still inherent in the culture and history of the South, which hints at the society’s indifference towards ethical issues. O’Connor contrasts Old Dudley’s introspection with urban New York settings, bringing out tension between romanticized memories of youth and city life, on one hand and, anxiety induced by the modern city on the other “he knew Yankees let niggers in their front doors and let them sit on their sofas but he didn't know his own daughter that was raised proper would stay next door to them and then think he didn't have no more sense than to want to mix with them. Him!” (page 22). This is why Old Dudley’s character can be seen as embodying all the elements of the moral decay, with prejudice and social stratification being the main reasons for the systemic injustice and ethical