The Life You Save May Be Your Own: Themes

Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary work.

The Dichotomy of Tradition and Modernity

The Crater plantation is a model of traditional, agrarian values. It is intimated that the two women have not left the property since the elder Lucynell’s husband died and the car “quit running.” The two women have continued to fulfill the traditional role of women in a household—cooking, cleaning, and generally keeping the plantation going. Significantly, they haven’t ventured out to seek anything beyond the boundaries of their property and, arguably, would have lived like that until one or both of them died in their house. The old woman and her daughter represent a world that was beginning to feel outdated even before the story was published in 1955. Shiftlet represents an intrusion of the modern world, with his inclination toward restlessness and a willingness to take advantage of an opportunity when it presents itself. There is little of the communal thoughtfulness that rural populaces relied upon for support and safety. Rather, Shiftlet sees what he wants and outmaneuvers the old woman to get it. Even though he claims more than once that he was raised a certain way that would seem to embrace tradition, his actions refute that claim. He rejects the old woman’s offer to live the life she recognizes as right and proper, leaving on his own and abandoning his new wife to see what is available elsewhere, which is a thoroughly modern act of self-interest and self-fulfillment.

The Relationship between Stability and Restlessness

The Craters have no mortgage, meaning they own the land and house outright. They raise their own fowl, they have their own well, and they keep to themselves. There is no indication that they have neighbors of any kind, and so they are forced to be self-reliant, for better or worse. The old woman touts their lifestyle as an inducement for Shiftlet to stay. He claims that he “would give a fortune” to be able to live somewhere he could watch the sunset every evening, and the Crater plantation would provide just that. However, it is clear from the jump that he is interested in the car, a symbol of movement, adventure, and escape. As he lists the various jobs he has held and all the places he has traveled to and through, it is evident that Shiftlet is not a man inclined toward stability, even if some part of him seems interested. He is a man on the move, and based on his actions, he will not hesitate to act cruelly to keep moving on to his next adventure. Even as the old woman provides reason after reason for Shiftlet to stay and live a life of simple stability with her and her daughter, he is a man who will not give up his wandering lifestyle, though he will trade up for access to an automobile.

The Complications of Maternal Relationships

Maternal relationships are foundational to the story. The old woman is devoted to her daughter, but she is also desperate for help to care for her. As someone who has been caring for an adult with special needs alone for years, it is not difficult to understand why she would be “ravenous” for someone to help. The machinations between the elder Lucynell and Shiftlet surrounding the honeymoon trip further suggest the complex feelings she has toward her daughter. She does not ever seem to fully trust Shiftlet, even with his easy conversation and his ability to tell her what she wants to hear. However, she is still willing to let him take Lucynell away for the weekend. The old woman is smart enough to know what could happen, but she considers the risk worth it, even if she does feel guilty. Shiftlet talks about his own mother as “an angel of Gawd,” but he also says that as special and loving as she was, he left her. Even the boy he picks up seems to push back against Shiftlet’s contradiction between what he says about his mother and what he’s done with her guidance. Shiftlet is a character with selfish motivations, listing places and jobs he’s had and left. Yet, there seems to be some pain behind his inability to settle anywhere, and his mention of his mother suggests turmoil at the core of their relationship.

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