In Raymond Carver’s short story “Popular Mechanics”, a couple has an argument while the husband is packing to leave. The argument escalates and gets physical with a “tug of war” with their baby. The couple became so persistent to keep their baby away from one another that this fight results into a tragic situation that they can never take back. Because Carver made this short story vague, he makes you use your imaginations to fill in the blanks of this story. The story begins with the lines, “Early that day the weather turned and the snow was melting into dirty water” (Carver 228). This gloomy setting is used and described in the beginning of this story to get the reader ready for the argument that’s about to come. Usually, snow can be seen as fresh and beautiful or at least pleasant to look at, but in this story, Carver creates this dark, depressing atmosphere when he describes the snow melting into “dirty water”, and having only faint lighting in the house that’s coming from the outside, through a small window. It seems like Carver used the snow …show more content…
The characters are described based off their actions and argument in the story. Carver had the man and woman have stereotypical reactions and responses in their fight, so the readers can relate to it and be able to compare it to someone they know personally. For example, the woman says things like “Son of a bitch! I’m glad you’re leaving!”, and “Just get your things and get out” (Carver 228), which are common responses women would say in a heated argument with their significant other. The man reacts by not responding to her, which is also a typical response men have. These actions and responses are things that are commonly said and done in a relationship. Carver wanted the readers to identify with the characters easily and make their own description of the characters. The man and woman in this story are flat, stock