The Lame Shall Enter First Summary

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The short story “The Lame Shall Enter First” by Flannery O’Connor is a classic story of good vs. evil. The author introduces three characters engaging in a religious battle where healing is the main objective in the story. Satan is a fallen angel and is the opposite of God’s unblemished world. It appears that Satan only exists for the solitary purpose of keeping the balance of good vs. evil but if that were true, does that mean Satan doesn’t exist in any form in the story and that none of the characters were not similar to him?

In the story, Sheppard works as a City Recreational Director and during his weekends, he meets fourteen-year-old Rufus Johnson. Sheppard attempts to unite his son Norton with Rufus for the soul purpose that he thinks his son is self-centered and is completely spoiled. Sheppard believes if Norton has Rufus in his life it would be a huge awaking for his son. Sheppard believes that Rufus has a lot of good in him and thinks if he had a chance to succeed he would flourish. Sheppard instantly takes Rufus under his wing after the boy leaves reformatory. Sheppard doesn’t believe in heaven or God whereas, Rufus believes in good and evil but particularly Satan. …show more content…

Rufus provided a disorderly idea of what heaven was and in the end ultimately destroyed Norton in his search for his mother. He told Norton if your mother believed in Jesus and was not a whore she was saved. In some sense, I believe Rufus’s character portrayed more than just a disciple of Satan but almost like Satan himself as he influenced Norton in his teachings of Heaven and Hell. Satan’s work appears to be throughout the story and when Rufus committed a crime, Satan exulted. When Rufus created havoc, or destroyed property entirely out of pleasure, Satan exulted. When we saw, Rufus abolish his life and lied to create further destruction, Satan

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