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The Life You Save May Be Your Own Character Analysis

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"The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” written by Flannery O’Connor, tells the story of a handicap man, Tom Shiflet, who is searching for salvation and redemption. O’Connor incorporates symbols and historical context to create a vivid description of the the selfishness and greed of Americans during this time period. He came upon Mrs. Carter, and offered to fix her automobile. As the story progresses, he was introduced to Mrs. Crater 's mute daughter, Lucynell, and decides to marry her. He begins to drive off with the automobile, wedding money, and Lucynell. With that being said, he is more interest in the material goods (the automobile and the money), which leads him to abandon Lucynell at the diner. By abandoning Lucynell, he comes upon a road sign that says, “Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own.” In "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," Flannery O 'Connor uses the journey of the character Tom Shiftlet to illustrate themes about the …show more content…

The selfishness and greediness plays a significant role in the short story. Mr. Shiftlet embodies an interest in the money and Mrs. Crater’s automobile, which he thought it would bring meaning to his life. During the time period, where O’Connor wrote the story, many Americans had an obsession with money and material goods. As a result, it blinds them to see the spiritual figures over the material goods. Nonetheless, materialism centers around the one-arm man, Tom Shiflet, and his desires to getting the money and the car. It was said to be that, during the time the short story was published, many Americans were purchasing their first cars and hitting the highways to “see the U.S.A. in their Chevrolet.” In contrast, his yearning for the automobile implies the hollowness within his soul (Deginan). But before they start living together, Shiflet ran away to Mobile and abandons Lucynell (Short Stories for Students 125). Eventually, he admits that he always wanted a car, but he could not afford one due to his financial

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