An Analysis of the Fates of Each of the Characters Presented within Flannery O'Connor's Text The Life You Save May Be Your Own

“...she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no one to be afraid of.” (Life, 1013) Flannery O’Connor was known for the strong reflection of her Roman Catholic faith in her texts. It is no surprise when reading The Life You Save May Be Your Own that this text very heavily examines morality and ethics, especially in regards to the title of the text. This short story essentially follows two characters, Mr. Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater as they pretty much abuse Lucynell in order to gain advantage over one another. This text’s title and its ending are very easily the most important parts, simply because they tie together so wholeheartedly. This text is all about endings and saving yourself. Each character approaches the idea of saving themselves in very different ways with varying levels of control. Through the use of both direct and indirect characterization, O’Connor displays the ways in which Lucynell, Mr. Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater approach and handle the idea of salvation, and the ways in which this method lands them where they are in the ending. Within the text The Life You Save May Be Your Own Flannery O’Connor clearly depicts the ways in which the idea of saving yourself impacts the overall outcome of an individual’s life.
Mrs. Crater approaches the idea of self-preservation in a very cunning method by refusing to let anyone on to her plan until the very end when it is too late to reverse the decisions made. Of the three characters presented, Mrs. Crater ends up in the best position at the end of the text. The very last scene Mrs. Crater is in is the one in which she is saying goodbye to her daughter as Mr. Shiftlet drives her away. “When they were ready to leave, she stood staring in the window of the car, her...

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...of depicting the relationship between self-preservation and moral purity, and she did so rather flawlessly. She depicted the ways in which the level of control an individual chooses to take can impact where they end up ultimately, and she did so with three incredible examples. Mr. Shiftlet, Mrs. Crater and Lucynell were all developed in such unique ways that it allowed for a very complex understanding of the very idea of saving yourself, and the benefits of success when your success came entirely from abusive methods. Flannery O’Conner was known for her use of her Roman Catholic background in her writing, and it was incredibly prevalent in her interpretation of the wrongdoings in this text. She was not afraid to show that all characters have the potential for evil, and even the most unexpected characters will go to great lengths to ensure their personal happiness.