Theme Of The Life You Save May Be Your Own By Flannery O Connor

(Analysis of Characters in O’Connor’s The Life You Save May Be Your Own)

Flannery O’Connor seems to always have a way with developing characters and stories that have multiple meanings. Maintaining this pattern, The Life You Save May Be Your Own can be considered representative of several different things. From salvation to evil intent, the story symbolizes the journey of any person throughout life. Along with struggles for survival, the text also has implied temptations and trials. While these are mostly pertaining to Mr. Shiftlet, they can also be applied to Mrs. Crater. Lucynell, however represents innocence and hope. Each character has its own separate fate; however they are tied together in multiple ways.

Initially, in The Life You Save May Be Your Own, O’Connor presents Mr. Shiftlet in a very specific light. This is the side of the story in which Shiftlet is a wandering vagabond in need of salvation. This is made apparent through symbolism with the cross and other Christian aspects. “He swung both his whole and his short arm up slowly so that they indicated an expanse of sky and his figure formed a crooked cross.” (O’Connor, 1014) Shiftlet represents the salvation people often seek at some point in their lives. At this point in the story, Shiftlet may seem to be not only his own

salvation, but also that of the Craters. Shiftlet is at first only seeking his own salvation, but after, he realizes that is not the only thing that matters. However, this does not necessarily affect his course of action.

Lucynell represents the epitome of innocence and hope in the book.

She has not had a way to learn and has therefore remained unscathed by the world.Therefore, when Shiftlet shows up at her and her mother’s house, she is very confused and very curious. Lucynell is quickly taken with Shiftlet and begins to follow him around their property, repeating the word Shiftlet taught her over and over, perhaps hoping he would be proud of her.”The big rosy-faced girl followed him around everywhere, saying “Burrrttddttttttttt…’” (O’Connor, 1017) Lucynell is so innocent and unaware of the plans her mother and Shiftlet have for her, and she will not be aware until she is lost and on her

own.

Mrs. Crater is a more complex character; however, she ultimately represents greed and temptation. Mrs. Crater is poor and desperate for someone to take care of her and her daughter. “She was ravenous for a son-in-law.” (O’Connor) Mrs. Crater, in some ways is almost worse than Shiftlet. She uses trickery and cunning and bargaining in order to get her way with Shiftlet. She convinces him to marry Lucynell, sealing her own fate along with her daughters. Had Mrs. Crater not been so desperate for someone to provide for her daughter and herself, perhaps her daughter would not have suffered the fate she did. In this context, the only person Mrs. Crater really wanted to save, is herself.
As a whole, the characters in this story each have different symbolism and different intents. While Shiftlet and Mrs. Crater have far more evil intentions, Lucynell seems to be pure and innocent, only really wanting to please those around her. These two are a deadly combination. It is this very thing that will cause Lucynell to be lost to the only home and the only place she has ever known. In the end, these characters, particularly Mrs. Crater and Shiftlet, are sick and willing to deprive others of their happiness in order to fulfill their own agendas. However, Lucynell shows that even when the world seems evil, innocence and hope are still present.