The Life You Save May Be Your Own - Short Story

Character Analysis Essay

In the short story “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”, Flannery O’ Connor introduces the idea that motivation through self-interest leads to the destruction of oneself. The story takes place on a desolate farmland, which is inhabited by Mrs. Crater, an old widow, Lucynell, Mrs. Crater’s deaf and helpless daughter, and a mysterious, crippled stranger looking for work, Mr. Shiftlet. Mr. Shiftlet’s name is a testimony to his shifting, complex character. Through his actions and morals, he can best be described as both conniving and compunctious, thus contributing to the overall theme of the story.

Mr. Shiftlet arrives at Mrs. Crater’s property with an enigmatic persona by evasively dodging Mrs. Crater’s questions and not offering much information about himself. Nevertheless, Mrs. Crater offers him a job on the plantation and immediately, Mr. Shiftlet is enamored with her car. He hints that he has an agenda on his mind when he confesses, “the reason [I] had improved this plantation was because [I] had taken a personal interest in it” (3). Since snakes are often associated with deceit and turpitude, O’ Connor conveys a devious ambience to Mr. Shiftlet when she comments, “Mr. Shiftlet’s smile stretched like a weary snake waking up by a fire” (5). This comparison leads the reader to believe he is a calculating person and is not to be trusted. Also, his greedy mindset is not only proven by his obsessive fixation over the automobile, but also when O’ Connor writes, “[Mr. Shiftlet] didn’t doubt that she had more money sewed up in her mattress but he had already told her he wasn’t interested in her money” (5). Since he ultimately manipulates his way into owning Mrs. Crater’s automobile, Mr. Shiftlet’s conniving nature embodies O’ Connor’s message that self-interest is the primary motivation in a person’s actions.

Although Mr. Shiftlet has a crafty nature about him, he goes through periods of discontent and guilt, thus revealing his compunctious character. After marrying Lucynell for selfish reasons, “he became depressed in spite of the car” (6). This indicates that Mr. Shiftlet can feel his conscience eating at him, thereby, letting the reader know that he is not completely emotionless. It is clear that Mr. Shiftlet feels deep sentiment towards his mother and is emotionally triggered by the subject when he says, “I never rued a day in