would the tone for "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by Flannery O'Conner be selfish because Mr. Shiftlet wants the car only and the mother is looking for any man to hand her daughter to?
I haven't read this story, but this site may help you.
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/o/oconnors-short-stories/summary-and-analysis/the-life-you-save-may-be-your-own
thank you. You should read it. it is interesting
You're welcome. It looks intriguing.
To analyze the tone of "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" by Flannery O'Connor, we need to examine the overall attitude and feelings conveyed in the story. One way to determine the tone is by closely reading the text and examining the actions, dialogue, and motivations of the characters.
In the story, Mr. Shiftlet is depicted as a morally ambiguous character who is primarily interested in obtaining a car. However, it's important to note that the story goes beyond a simple depiction of selfishness or greed. O'Connor often explores deeper and darker themes in her works.
The tone of "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" is dark and ironic. O'Connor uses this story to explore the flaws and shortcomings of her characters. The characters' selfishness and immoral behavior are used to convey the broader message of the corrupt nature of humanity.
While Mr. Shiftlet desires the car and the mother is willing to marry off her daughter to any man, it would be oversimplifying to label the tone as solely "selfish." The story reflects the brokenness of human nature and the characters' desperate attempts to find salvation and fulfillment in material possessions or exploitative relationships.
To fully understand the tone of any literary work, it's important to analyze the story as a whole, considering the author's intentions, themes explored, and the emotions evoked throughout.