Question

read the excerpt from flannery oconnors \the life you save may be your own.\

he was more depressed than ever as he drove on by himself. the late afternoon had grown hot and sultry and the country had flattened out.

which best describes the irony in the excerpt?

• the heat of the day is indicative of mr. shiflets negative feelings of his life and situation.
• mr. shiflet would have preferred to travel with his new wife, lucynell, but she has left him at the diner.
• the young boy rejected mr. shiflets offer to give him a ride, and now the man finds himself alone.
• mr. shiflet has the car he wanted and managed to rid himself of his wife, but he still is not happy.

Explanation:

Irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality. Mr. Shiftlet pursued the car and freedom from his wife, but achieving these goals leaves him more depressed, which contradicts the expected happiness from getting what he wanted. The other options either describe symbolism (heat indicating mood) or plot details without ironic contrast.

Answer:

Mr. Shiftlet has the car he wanted and managed to rid himself of his wife, but he still is not happy.