Flannery O'Connor's The Life You Save May Be Your Own

1000 Words2 Pages

Religion and nature are both thought to bring beauty to life. Religion gives some a purpose to live while for others, nature provides a natural escape from the problems of modern day life. However, author Flannery O’ Connor uses both of these elements in her short story The Life You Save May Be Your Own for a different purpose. Religion and nature provide the reader with insight into the main character, Tom Shiflet, a troubled drifter with one arm who comes into the lives of the Crater women and leaves them abruptly. While the weather represents the changing circumstances of the main character, Tom Shiflet, the numerous Christian symbols surrounding the characters serve to emphasize his moral corruption.
The sunset and clear blue sky represent the opportunity for a new life for the character of Tom Shiflet. The story begins with Mr. Shiflet appearing before both Crater women as the sun is setting. The women see him approaching as they are sitting on their porch yet they are blinded by the light as Shiflet cannot help but notice its beauty. Shiflet “came on, at an amble, up her road, his face turned toward the sun which appeared to be balancing itself on the peak of a small mountain” (Connor 437). After this, Shiflet remarks that “I’d give a fortune to live where I could see me a sun do that every evening” (438). The magnificence of the sunset corresponds to the beautiful sky present on the day of Tom Shiflet’s wedding to Lucynell. As Lucynell and Tom head out for their honeymoon, the afternoon sky is described as, “clear and open and surrounded by pale blue sky” (Connor 443). It was a perfect day to celebrate the sacrament of marriage. Yet, these descriptions provide not only detail to the reader, they provide a window into th...

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... for is contrasted by the ugliness of Shiflet. He has mistreated both of these angels by deserting them. The comparison of the women to angels serves to highlight their virtue and point out that the women were undeserving of the disgraceful treatment they received at the hands of Tom Shiflet.
While the frequent Christian symbols present in the novel serve to highlight Tom Shiflet’s sinful nature, O’Connor also uses the weather to represent his shifting attitude. A quiet life with Lucynell was not meant to be for Tom Shiflet, much to the dismay of Mrs. Crater. While Tom’s actions are by no means justified, one cannot overlook the fact that both these women were forcing Tom to change into something he was not. Tom was never meant to live the quiet married life, he was a drifter, a backcountry traveler who stopped to admire the sunset, and left under a cloud. mondane

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