Why Does Flannery O Connor Use Literary Devices

Flannery O'Connor uses literary devices such as FORESHADOWING, DEEPER CHARACTER MEANINGS, and SYMBOLISM, to help the reader contemplate what extremes they would go to for their freedom.

The first literary device O'Connor used was foreshadowing, she did this by suggesting slight details that hinted at what was later to come in the story. This can be seen in the quotation, “When they were ready to leave, she stood staring in the window of the car, with her fingers clenched around the glass. Tears began to seep sideways out of her eyes and run along the dirty creases in her face.” (O’Connor, 12) The old woman is so upset because even though she desperately wanted a son-in-law, she will miss her daughter. Even though the author has never come

This causes the reader to question the extent they would go for freedom because of the old woman’s extreme actions. Another quote that shows foreshadowing in The Life You Save May Be Your Own can be seen on page three of the story, “A sly look came over his face. "Lady," he said, "Nowadays, people'll do anything anyways. I can tell you my name is Tom T. Shiftlet and I come from Tarwater, Tennessee, but you never have seen me before: how you know I ain't lying?” (O’Connor, 3) This quote gives beneficial details to help realize Mr. Shiftlet is not an honest man. By openly admitting to potentially not being truthful, Mrs. Crater can come to realize that he is not whom he says he is. This point can be moved greater than the story because it already relates to real life. In your everyday encounters with

This can be seen throughout the story, especially in correlation with the terms of higher powers. In this quotation, Mr. Shiftlet is being “judged” by god. "My old woman is a flea bag and yours is a stinking pole cat!" and with that, he flung the door open and jumped out with his suitcase into the ditch. (O’Connor 14) The boy represents Jesus and judgment because Mr. Shiftlet is momentarily seeking redemption for the sin he has committed. In addition, Mr. Shiftlet’s mother is spoken of in the present tense, even though she has passed on. This refers back to the hitchhiker knowing Shiftlet's mother, which is not possible unless he is a high power. Anyone reading this story will think about the extremes they would go to for freedom because if you are willing to sin for it, are you willing to pay the price of forgiveness and redemption as well? A second quotation that shows symbolism well can be found on page 14, “Mr. Shiftlet felt that the rottenness of the world was about to engulf him. He raised his arm and let it fall again to his breast. "Oh Lord!" he prayed. "Break forth and wash the slime from this earth!"’ (O’Connor 14) in this section of the story, Shiftlet is drowning in the grief of the action he has just committed. By yelling for the slime to be washed from the earth, he is begging for forgiveness in an underlying tone. He has sinned his way to freedom but doesn’t think he is deserving