In the short story “Life You Save May Be Your Own” by Flannery O’Connor Shiftlet remains the same throughout. Although Shiftlet had numerous opportunities of his own redemption, he passed it by each time. Throughout the story there was a plethora of indicators showing how he would remain stagnant. Shiftlet is a static character, because he remained selfish, corrupt, and ignorant.
The author indicates Shiftlet’s selfishness, a contribution to his stagnation, in numerous occasions. During one of his discussions with the old woman Lucynell Crater his eyes were described as “Shiftlet's eye in the darkness was focused on a part of the automobile bumper that glittered in the distance.” This suggests Shiftlet’s main focus was the automobile ever …show more content…
In the beginning of the story Shiftlet wanders to the old woman’s house and is described as “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.” The author hints that he has a chance of redemption by using his form of a cross as a symbol of christ and redemption. His form also represents how he would eventually become corrupted, because it was described as crooked. In addition, the author includes the colors of the automobile as an indicator of Shiftlet’s corruption. The automobile was described as being “dark green with a yellow band around it just under the windows.” The color green represents rebirth. This shows how Shiftlet would have an opportunity of redemption, however, the strip of the color yellow changes this. Yellow can represent dishonesty and deceit, thus representing Shiftlet’s corruption. Furthermore, the author also uses the weather to illustrate Shiftlet’s opportunity for salvation and redemption. After Shiftlet marries Lucynell the weather was described as“clear and open and surrounded by pale blue sky.” This suggests he still had an opportunity of redemption. As soon as Shiftlet abandons Lucynell at the Hot Spot the weather is now described as” a storm was preparing very slowly and without thunder as if it meant to drain every drop of air from the earth before it broke.” This shows how Shiftlet passed by another