"The Life You Save May Be Your Own" is a short story by the American author Flannery O'Connor. It is one of the ten stories included in her short story collection A Good Man is Hard to Find, published in 1955.
"An old woman and her daughter sit quietly on their porch at sunset when Tom Shiftlet comes walking up the road to their farm. Through carefully selected details, O’Connor reveals that the girl is mute, that the old woman views Shiftlet as ...
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"The Life You Save May Be Your Own" is a short story by the American author Flannery O'Connor. It is one of the ten stories included in her short story collection A Good Man is Hard to Find, published in 1955.
"An old woman and her daughter sit quietly on their porch at sunset when Tom Shiftlet comes walking up the road to their farm. Through carefully selected details, O’Connor reveals that the girl is mute, that the old woman views Shiftlet as “a tramp,” and that Shiftlet himself wears a “left coat sleeve that was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it.” The two adults exchange curt pleasantries."
Shiftlet is a carpenter and has offered to help around the farm. Mrs. Crater offers him shelter in exchange for work but warns, “I can’t pay.” Shiftlet says he has no interest in money, adding that he believes that most people are too concerned with money. Sensing not only a handyman but a suitor for her daughter, Mrs. Crater asks if Shiftlet is married, to which he responds, ...
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