Essay on A Small, Good Thing, by Raymond Carver - 1956 Words

The short story, A Small, Good Thing by Raymond Carver 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, Carver 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 expressed with dignity and understatement. It is a story with a broad appeal: the simple prose makes it accessible to a wide audience, while the complex themes and issues make it appealing to the educated reader. Written in Carvers†¦show more content†¦Although the doctors and hospital staff continue to reassure Ann and her husband that their son will be fine - no coma, Dr. Francis had emphasized, no coma, when he saw the alarm in the parents‘ eyes - Scotty still does not wake up, and the situation becomes increasingly serious. At the same time, the parents are tormented by late-night phone calls from the baker - Your Scotty, I got him ready for youÂ…Did you forget him? - whose mysterious messages lead them to believe he is a psychopath, or the hit-and-run driver who put Scotty into a coma. Then, abruptly, Scotty dies - the doctors called it a hidden occlusion and said it was a one-in-a-million circumstance. Numb and shaken, the parents return home - but after another taunting prank call, Ann realizes that it is the baker who has been calling, and confronts him in his store; he is instantly remorseful when he learns of the childs death, and offers Ann and Howard some cinnamon rolls - a small, good thing in a time like this. His empathy helps the parents to deal with Scottys death and to find some small measure of hope for the future. On a deeper level, A Small, Good Thing is concerned with more complex themes and ideas. Central is the idea of communication, and lack of communication. Carver conveys the Weiss family as generally good people. They are a relatively close-knit, function well as a family, and are grateful for what they have -Show MoreRelatedA Small Good Thing By Raymond Carver1513 Words   |  7 PagesThe short story of A Small Good Thing by Raymond Carver describes the story of a family who loses their son due to a hit and run accident. 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