preview

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

Decent Essays

Flannery O’Connor, the author of the short story The Life You Save May Be Your Own uses many symbols throughout the short story, I chose Lucynell, and the automobile (car). Lucynell the first symbol, represents pureness, innocence and holiness. Lucynell represents pureness and innocence, “can’t sass you back or use foul language. That’s the kind of girl for you to have. Right there,” this quote is said by Lucynells mother, which indicates that Lucynell is a pure and innocent girl who is not been corrupted, instead she will fallow his orders. Another quote, which shows her innocence “ a large girl in a short blue organdy dress, saw him all at once and jumped up and began to stamp and point and make excited speechless sounds.” The way she behaves in this quote, reminds me of a little innocent child, jumping and making noise. The diner boy saw her holy, by saying “she looks like an angel of Gawd,” apparently Mr. Shiftlet did not because he abandoned her in “The Hot Spot” which can …show more content…

Carter said, “That car ain’t run in fifteen year,” like the automobile this quote, portrays that even if you stopped moving for some time, with some adjustment you can get moving again. The road sign said, “Drive carefully. The life you save may be your own.” This quote and it is also the title of the short story, shows to keep moving in life you have to keep safe, and choose the right decision, based on Mr. Shiftlet situation it is like a reminder to seek change anything he has done wrong, before he misses the chance of redemption. To sum this up, the automobile is important in the short story, because it shows that people keep moving on, the automobile shows Mr. Shiftlet’s final act of corruption by abandoning Lucynell, and she was his opportunity of salvation, but instead he took the automobile which he has set his eyes on for a while, Mr. Shiftlet went back empty, wandering

Get Access