"The Life You Save May Be Your Own" - Summary and Themes

Story link: jhampton.pbwork...
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[@lesterstone8595]

I agree with you that Mr. Shiflet is looking for morality. However, I think he is knowingly untrustworthy and looking to manipulate and take advantage of moral and innocent victims by winning their trust. Although he states that his mother taught him morality, he chooses not to exercise morality since he steals the car and abandons his helpless wife. He manipulated both his wife and mother-in-law into trusting him by teaching Lucynell to speak and by repairing things for the mother. He even manipulates his mother-in-law into giving him more money for the trip. The text states that he's sure Lucynell, Sr. has more money than she is willing to show. The sign, which like the story's title, states, "The Life You Save May Be Your Own," is a message from God showing that Shiflet should choose to do the moral thing, saving his wife, and by doing this he saves his own soul or eternal life. However, like Eve, the first sinner, he chooses selfish freedom over morality which is represented by the car. Even the name, Shiflet, hints that he should shift from his selfish decision to the morality taught to him as a boy. Shiflet is shifty; he knows what he should do, but he chooses to do the wrong thing anyway. The hitchhiker insults Shiflet's mother indicating that she was unsuccessful in creating a moral son. The hitchhiker exits the car saving his life by not following Shiflet. IMO 😇

[@javierv333]

Great, fine interpretation! (from Spain)

[@zygmuntpc]

Great analysis. Thank you.

[@adayaferge4524]

From what I understood, the title reflects on the story because if Shiftlet had saved Lucynell and not left her behind, he would have also saved his own life. But instead, he ran away and abandoned her. The story's original title was supposed to be, "The World Is Almost Rotten" which would reflect on the last pages of the story where it says, "Mr. Shiftlet felt that the rottenness of the world was about to engulf him. He raised his arm and let it fall again to his breast. "Oh Lord!" he prayed. "Break forth and wash the slime from this earth!" which reflects that only a supernatural act of grace can turn something rotten into something good again. (meaning Mr. Shiftlet)

[@francescavicari8039]

I'd say something about the mother too. Though she claims she would never give her daughter up, she is really already thinking about getting rid of her presenting her child in the most posite way, as a young woman being able to do all the housework. So as soon as she has the chance she 'offers' the helpless girl to a man she doesn't know anything of. Therefore she is shallow and hypocritical, she has no moral values or human qualities as Mr. Shiflet.

[@ashleymarie1288]

No way. The mother knows the girl isn't going to find a man. Which was part of survival back then. She knew she needed to find her a good one and honestly thought she had.

[@ashleymarie1288]

Hes not concerned about the honeymoon. He said it as part of his manipulative plan. He does know right from wrong but lacks empathy and doesn't actually care.

[@prestonprzybylski1306]

Great video!

[@khadijael9948]

Good luck 💗

[@claraturpin9795]

I think that maybe the title represents how after trying to save the life of others', he managed to save his own life and to live in the spirit (by himself)... ? Thank you for the video :))

[@lit.professor6265]

O'Conner is the best!