Perspectives

Literary perspectives

Published in 1983, the short story "A Small, Good Thing" by Raymond Carver fits the literary movement called Realism, which developed in the mid-19th and early 20th century. Realist works can be recognized through themes, context, and narrative techniques. “A Small, Good Thing” explores the theme…

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Works with the same theme

In “Chef’s House”, Raymond Carver also explores the topic of connection between spouses. He tells the story of Edna and Wes, a separated couple who reunites for one summer, which they spend in a house that Wes rents from a friend, Chef. In contrast to Anne and Howard in “A Small, Good Thing”, Wes and Edna are separated, and they are only temporarily brought closer together. As opposed to Howard, Wes has a distant relationship with his children, and feel unloved by them. While Anne and Howard remain close during Scotty’s stay in the hospital and after his death, Wes and Edna cannot rebui…