The story under the title “Can-Can” was written by Arturo Vivante. He was born in Rome and got a medical education but left his medical practice in the mid – 1950 when his short stories began to be published. Though Vivante writes in English and has lived in America for much of the last 35 years, his Italian heritage has an undeniable presence in his fiction. His short stories often are read like reflections or memories of a distant and foreign past that a reader cannot help but link to the life of the transplanted author himself.
The story “Can-Can” runs about a man that is going to the secret meeting with the other woman. But before seeing off he watches quite an interesting scene: his wife dances can-can. Suddenly it occurs to the man that he doesn’t want to leave but the date is already arranged. So having arrived to the summer cottage with his girlfriend the man finds himself thinking of his wife and that surprises him greatly.
The story “Can-can” by Arturo Vivante is of social-psychological genre. Here can be observed such social themes as the role of faithfulness and attachment in the family life. But in the same time this story can be considered to be of psychological one as here is shown the feelings and thoughts of the protagonist of the story.
The story “Can-Can” is mostly a narration which is rather dynamic and gives a continuous account of events (husband talks to his wife, leaves the house, calls his girlfriend, waits for her at the café and then goes to the summer cottage). It has some elements of description (such as “she had no stockings on, no shoes and legs looked white and smooth, her eyes had a mockery in them”) and also dialogue and monologue.
Firstly the atmosphere of the text can be considered to be bright as everyone smiles at each other, wife dances