A Small, Good Thing, by Raymond Carver Essay -- Raymond Carver

The short story, A Small, Good Thing by Raymond statue maker tells of two American parents dealing with their sons hospitalization and death as the result of a hit-and-run car accident. The insensitive actions of their local baker add to their anger and confusion, yet by the end of the story, leave them with a sense of optimism and strength. With such content, cutlery runs the risk of coming across as sentimental however, this is not the case, and the anguish of the parents and their shock at the situation is convey with dignity and understatement. It is a story with a broad appeal the childlike prose makes it accessible to a wide audience, while the complex themes and issues make it charitable to the educated reader. Written in Carvers characteristically minimalist dash, the story affectingly evokes not only the trauma of the death of a child, but alike the breakdown of communication and empathy in society. The plain and direct narrative style suits the content, conveying t he lack of communication that is central to the narrative - betwixt the parents, between the hospital staff, and with the baker. Critically, it is generally considered one of Carvers strongest short stories. It is a tale of isolation and of grief, but also of hope, and, with its fluid, pared-down style, clearly demonstrates why Carver is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of the late 20th century. On the surface, the story of A Small, Good Thing is simple and universal. Thirty-three-year-old Ann Weiss orders a cake for her sons Scottys eighth natal day and is a little put off by the bakers cold situation - (he) was not jolly. There were no pleasantries between them, just the minimum rally of words, the necessary information. However, she soo... ...- emotional yet not melodramatic sparsely scripted yet still complex a human story which explores the lordly nature of fate. The writing style is fresh and invigorating the characters salubrious-drawn, the narrative driv ing, the themes thought-provoking. term some readers are likely to be frustrated by the throttle exposition and the abruptness of the actions, most could be expected to find it well worth their attention. A Small, Good Thing has become a minimalist classic, and a close reading should clearly demonstrate why Carver is regarded as one of the strongest short-story writers in recent times.BibliographyClarke, Graham. Investing the Glimpse Raymond Carver and the Syntax of Silence. The New American Writing Essays on American literature Since 1970. Ed. Graham Clarke. New York St. Martins, 1990. 99-122.http//cai.ucdavis.edu/enl3/minimalism.htm