What is the meaning of The Life You Save May Be Your Own?
“The Life You Save May Be Your Own” is imbued with Christian themes of revelation, redemption, and grace. Lucynell, the only innocent character in the story, is described as “an angel of Gawd.” Her character acts as a foil to the self-serving Shiftlet.
What is the irony in The Life You Save May Be Your Own?
Irony – Verbal Mr. Shiftlet is obsessed with the morality and cruelty of the world. This is ironic because Shiftlet is corrupt and evil himself.
What does the crooked cross represent in The Life You Save May Be Your Own?
Standing with his good arm and his stump outstretched against the sunset, Shiftlet’s “figure formed a crooked cross,” an indication that, although in the light of the sun/son he may appear as a distortion of that most basic of Christian symbols, he is still created in that image.
What does Mr Shiftlet do while living on the farm?
What does Mr. Shiftlet accomplish during his week on the Crater farm? He fixed the lady’s car and he patched the front and back steps. He could stay in the car, but he had to fix up the place.
What effect does the wedding have on Mr Shiftlet?
In “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” what effect does the wedding have on Mr. Shiftlet? He reveals more of his true nature.
What does the name Lucynell mean?
Lucynell is a name that signifies a freedom-loving and free-spirited individual.
What does Mr Shiftlet want from Mrs crater?
Shiftlet? His goal is to steal the car. He behaves well so that Mrs. Crater will trust him; he agrees to marry Lucynell and then promptly abandons her.
What is the significance of the narrator’s saying that Mr Shiftlet’s figure formed a crooked cross?
How does the narrator’s observation that Mr. Shiftlet’s figure “formed a crooked” contribute to his characterization? The cross suggest a religious symbol of love and sacrifice. The crookedness suggests that Shiftlet symbolizes the opposite; meanness and selfishness.
What is ironic about Mr Shiftlet’s comments?
What is ironic about Mr. Shiftlet’s comments? He speaks about morals after having just abandoned his wife at a roadside diner. The daughter could not see far in front of her and continued to play with her fingers.
What might Mr Shiftlet’s name suggest about his role in the story?
Shiftlet’s name suggest about his character? The name suggests the word shiftless, which means “lazy”; the word makeshift, which means “something that will do temporarily”; the word shift, which means “move,” and the word shifty, which means “untrustworthy.” All of these words describe aspects of Shiftlet’s character.
What does the name crater mean?
1 : the area around the opening of a volcano or geyser that is shaped like a bowl. 2 : a hole (as in the surface of the earth or moon) formed by an impact (as of a meteorite) crater. noun.
How does this passage help reveal Mr Shiftlet’s secret motivation?
How does this passage help reveal Mr. Shiftlet’s secret motivation? He flatters het in order to get something. How does Lucynell’s response to Mr.
What is Flannery O’Connor’s calling in life?
As a devout Catholic, Flannery O’Connor felt her calling in life was to convert her readers through her stories. As with many of O’Connor’s stories, in “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” readers must struggle to define what is and is not morally correct.
What is the summary of the life you save may be your own?
As with many of O’Connor’s stories, in “The Life You Save May Be Your Own,” readers must struggle to define what is and is not morally correct. This is the story about a drifter who meets an old woman and her feeble-minded daughter living on an isolated farm.
Is there a study guide for the life you save may be your own?
Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Flannery O’Connor’s The Life You Save May Be Your Own. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world’s best literature guides. A concise biography of Flannery O’Connor plus historical and literary context for The Life You Save May Be Your Own.
How did Flannery O’Connor get famous?
Flannery O’Connor had her first brush with fame at age six, when Pathé News, a major newsreel company, filmed her with her trained chicken. Cartoon origins. In college, O’Connor was active as a cartoonist, drawing dozens of humorous comics for the school newspaper.