Explain the irony of Mr. Shiftlet’s statement that he served in the ""Arm Service

Find explanation below.

Explanation:

In the book, 'The Life You Save May Be Truly Yours', written by Flannery O'Connor, the character Tom Shiftlet is described as a tramp-looking old man who wonders on his journey into the home of Mrs Lucynell Crater. One of his features include not having a full arm. An Irony is a literary device  in which the statement made by a character is the opposite of what is expected in reality. The statement has a humorous or amusing effect.

The Arm Services are a part of the military forces concerned largely with the security and protection of a country and its citizens. In this category, we have the; Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard.  

 When Tom Shiftlet made the statement that he served in the Arm Service, one would ordinarily not expect that as he does not have a full arm. It is also amusing to think of how a half armed man could work in the military.