Key Themes From Short Stories Essay

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document

Total Length: 1543 words ( 5 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 6

Page 1 of 5

Feathers" what's so special about the night the narrator describes? Why did everything change afterwards?

The change that starts with at the end of the story is the request from Fran to have a baby. Jack obliges and they end up having a kid. It would seem that Fran made this request as a way to seek better feelings or perhaps a sense of something different as a result. While things did change, it was not for the better. Fran quit working and became overweight. In addition, she cut her hair. Fran also starts to talk less after the baby comes and the "change" sets in. In short, Fran sought out the baby as a way to change things for the better but there were underlying issues with Fran and Jack that were made worse, not better, by the appearance of the child. This stands in contrast to Bud and Olla who, in the perception of Fran/Jack, have a very ugly child but Bud and Olla do not seem fazed by this. Despite similar circumstances, Bud and Olla seem to have a better view of their life than what Fran and Jack eventually have about theirs. Olla and Bud hope for the best in the future while Fran and Jack are seemingly going the opposite direction. Just one example of this was when Olla stated "I've got lots of things to be thankful for" (Carver).

2. Talk about the ending of "A Small, Good Thing." Why is Ann "suddenly hungry"? Why do she and Howard "not think of leaving"?

Ann and Howard were seemingly so hungry because they neglected eating during the roughly final days and hours with their late son. Indeed, one can forget about the basics like taking care of one's self, sleeping well, eating well and so forth when it comes to things like that. The shock can be greater when one seemingly has the "perfect" life. The baker's story is quite the opposite. He has been a baker for many years but has also been childless and very much alone. Their connection at the tail-end of the story is a breaking away from the isolation and island-like nature of people sometimes when they get locked into their lives. However, that confrontation at the tail-end of the tale establishes a connection as they realize they have more to talk about and connect about than might be obvious. It surely also becomes clear to the parents who lost their child that the baker meant no ill intent. They realize how hungry they are and use the rolls they eat as something to enjoy together with the baker as they learn the truth about why there was such a discord between them and how the baker was obviously not trying to start trouble or be heartless, as was the apparently presumption of the parents who just lost their child. This stands in contrast from when the child was still ostensibly in a coma and Ann said she "couldn't eat anything" when the doctor came to visit. Once that barrier is broken, they get locked into this new interaction and forget about going home (Carver).

3. Will Inez and Lloyd -- the couple in "Careful" -- reunite? What is the significance of Lloyd's discarding the glass and drinking straight from the champagne bottle?

Given that it is fairly clearly stated that Lloyd has separated from Inez at least in part because of the drinking and given that he has only slightly modified his behavior as a result would seem to indicate that Inez and Lloyd will probably not get back together unless Lloyd stops the ostensible habits of an alcoholic. Indeed, the discarding of the glass at the end is significant because it shows just how committed he is to getting the taste of his champagne without the taste of the oil. It is clear that the message about being "careful" is lost on Lloyd as he almost immediately returns to his bad behavior right after Inez left. It is to the point where he ostensibly is losing track of time and is very much detached from actively trying to help and assist his own life. Further, it is even noted that while Lloyd has a notion of wanting to "get better," he does not seem to know of a way to start that journey. The efforts he does make are pretty poor and probably wouldn't work anyway. Indeed, he seems to know this and abandons one attempt when it is noted "he wanted to tell her he was limiting himself to champagne and champagne only." However, the very first thing he does after Inez leaves is drink champagne straight from the bottle so as to avoid the taste of oil in the glass (Carver).

Stuck Writing Your "Key Themes From Short Stories" Essay?

View All Our Example Key Themes From Short Stories Essay

Have A Custom Example Essay Written



4. Near the end of "Where I'm Calling From," the narrator remembers an encounter he and his wife had with their landlord. What's the significance of this memory?

The significance of the story is rather stirring. Indeed, the memory is that he is thinking about chimneys and such, probably because of his time spent talking to and interacting with JP. This was just after JP went inside and he asked for (and got) a kiss from Roxy. He thinks about chimneys and a place that he used to stay at with his wife sometime in the past. There was a bit of scraping on the house outside and it leads to the narrator glancing outside to see what the commotion is. It turns out to be the landlord, who is painting the house. In a quick series of thoughts and ruminations, the author is glad that he is who he is and that he is not someone like the landlord painting outside. He then realizes that he is completely naked and thus exposed to people that can see through the window. He then fades back into calling his wife and then his girlfriend. The significance of the window event can be correlated to what he decides to say to his girlfriend ... "hey sugar, it's me" ... if she answers (Carver).

5. In "The Bridle," why does the family decide to leave the apartment? Who left the bridle behind, and did he/she leave it on purpose?

Since Holits is clearly not in his right mind due to the miscue at the pool and since Betty was the one who tied up loose ends when they left the apartment, it is clear that Betty is the one that left behind the bridle. This is reinforced by the earlier mention by Betty during the hair-do and manicure that Holits had been betting on a horse that was never going to be competitive and thus able to win money for the family. Even if people cleaning up think that the bridle was simply "passed over in their hurry," this was obviously Betty's way of moving on from the horse and presumably the horse would be on its way out as well unless it was revered as a pet or companion. The family moves because of Holits' condition. The only given remark is that he just hit his head but it is clear that something else is going on because Holits does not recognize anyone. About a week after the injury, Betty is apparently the person to make the decision to leave and she surely did so on purpose, per the above. It would seem she acquiesced to Holits' assertions about the horse in the past but his injury had forced her to become the person in charge and she does so quite quickly (Carver).

6. The narrator of "Cathedral" keeps his eyes closed at the story's end. Why? Have his feelings about the blind man changed?

He keeps his eyes closed at the end because he has attained a perspective that reveals something greater. Rather than focus on what he can see right there in front of him, he has a feeling that he is now connected to something greater and more robust. This indeed seemed to be the goal of Robert in the first place and the narrator now realizes this. Rather than be about something specific like converting to Christianity and so forth, it has helped the narrator become enlightened. It has also helped the narrator break away from the isolationist pattern he has been caught in and from being the cynic and anti-social person he has obviously become throughout the story. Even at the onset, the narrator has some sort of issue with Robert and it seemingly relates to the fact that Robert is blind. However, this eventually changes when he begins to draw the cathedral while his eyes are closed. Almost instantaneously, the lesson to be learned has nothing to do with what is drawn on the paper but is rather about so much more. He now understands what Robert was trying to do and now he doesn't resist him or dislike being around him. At the same time, he has a….....

Show More ⇣

     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Key Themes From Short Stories" (2015, December 24) Retrieved May 20, 2025, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/key-themes-short-stories-2157957

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Key Themes From Short Stories" 24 December 2015. Web.20 May. 2025. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/key-themes-short-stories-2157957>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Key Themes From Short Stories", 24 December 2015, Accessed.20 May. 2025,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/key-themes-short-stories-2157957
   

Open, View, and/or
Download this Document
order custom essay example