Sun imagery is prevalent in many of Flannery O'Connor's works. Though subdued, the sun plays a somewhat important role in the Life You Save. The first appearance of sun imagery in the Life You Save occurs in reference to Mr. Shiflet. When Mr. Shiflet turns to face the sunset his face forms the shadow of a "crooked cross."
I know someone in the class is particularly interested in investing Mr. Shiflet's satisfaction, or lack thereof, in this story and this article I found on sun imagery may be pertinent to your paper. It's called, "Torn by the Lord's Eye": Flannery O'Connor's use of Sun Imagery...Anyhow, I found a particular aspect of this article relevant to the discussion we had earlier this week regarding the Life You Save, it reads as follows, "Like Christ, he is not satisfied by a mere ritual experience of the law." This statement was interesting to me because more than anything, including the theme of violence in the works of O'Connor, I see a recurring theme of that is similar to the "salt of the earth" qualm. This theme is that of O'Connor's desire to probe at her readers, to ask them "what do you believe, but more importantly, WHY do you believe it?" As a whole, O'Connor makes a point to avoid didacticism in her writing, but rather attempts to create an experience in which her characters EXPERIENCE situations in which they are forced to question their beliefs.
Works Cited
Stuart L. Burns
Twentieth Century Literature, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Oct., 1967), pp. 154-166
Published by: Hofstra University
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