Lack Of Communication In Popular Mechanics By Raymond Carver
“Divorce is a controversial and catastrophic social issue in many societies. Divorce will in turn cause behavioral deviations, crime, murder, and suicides. Research has shown that the numerous crises faced by families affect women and children the most (Zandiyeh 168).” The lack of communication in a relationship is generated by a variety of aspects, for example one of these problems is resentment relating to other interpersonal differences. Additionally, the absence of communication is caused also by having an engrossed life where there is no time for one another. Through using symbols in the short story “Popular Mechanics” Raymond Carver exemplifies that the lack of communication in a relationship causes estrangement and struggle.
Although
estrangement is caused by many different conditions, the vast majority are caused by the lack of communication. Estrangement is when a couple is no longer together, or unfriendly to one another. The author uses the separation of the couple to show that the shortage of contact does in fact cause estrangement. Raymond Carver does this by the use of symbols to let the reader know what is happening, but not coming out and saying it upfront. The initial sentence in the reading is very important considering it tells us the predicament of the story. “One of the symbols Raymond Carver uses is dirty snow. In the story we are told “the snow was melting into dirty water (269).” In addition snow is white; in many pieces of literature white symbolizes cleanliness and purity. Carver is suggesting the relationship was blooming and devoted, but it has become “dirty” or soiled. Furthermore, Carver uses the weather repeatedly to symbolize the unpleasant relationship. He shows the reader by saying “Cars slushed by on the street outside, where it was getting dark, but it was getting dark on the inside, too (269).” Regularly, when snow melts it turns into nasty dirty slush. The snow melting into slush tells the readers the weather is changing from winter to spring. This symbolizes the couple’s relationship changing from splendid to unpleasant.
Generally, the normal person faces many struggles throughout life, including divorce. Struggles are when a person is facing hard times in many different forms in life. Raymond Carver utilizes symbols such as, a flower pot breaking and a physical fight in the kitchen to exemplify the struggle in the reading. One of the symbols is a flower pot breaking. "The flowerpot should have reminded the parents in Carver's story that they, too, live in a world where most things, even children, break (German).” Furthermore, the pot falling and shattering is symbolizing the relationship spiraling out of control and everything falling apart. Carver also uses the flower pot to tell us what will proceed to happen later in the story. “”
Although
estrangement is caused by many different conditions, the vast majority are caused by the lack of communication. Estrangement is when a couple is no longer together, or unfriendly to one another. The author uses the separation of the couple to show that the shortage of contact does in fact cause estrangement. Raymond Carver does this by the use of symbols to let the reader know what is happening, but not coming out and saying it upfront. The initial sentence in the reading is very important considering it tells us the predicament of the story. “One of the symbols Raymond Carver uses is dirty snow. In the story we are told “the snow was melting into dirty water (269).” In addition snow is white; in many pieces of literature white symbolizes cleanliness and purity. Carver is suggesting the relationship was blooming and devoted, but it has become “dirty” or soiled. Furthermore, Carver uses the weather repeatedly to symbolize the unpleasant relationship. He shows the reader by saying “Cars slushed by on the street outside, where it was getting dark, but it was getting dark on the inside, too (269).” Regularly, when snow melts it turns into nasty dirty slush. The snow melting into slush tells the readers the weather is changing from winter to spring. This symbolizes the couple’s relationship changing from splendid to unpleasant.
Generally, the normal person faces many struggles throughout life, including divorce. Struggles are when a person is facing hard times in many different forms in life. Raymond Carver utilizes symbols such as, a flower pot breaking and a physical fight in the kitchen to exemplify the struggle in the reading. One of the symbols is a flower pot breaking. "The flowerpot should have reminded the parents in Carver's story that they, too, live in a world where most things, even children, break (German).” Furthermore, the pot falling and shattering is symbolizing the relationship spiraling out of control and everything falling apart. Carver also uses the flower pot to tell us what will proceed to happen later in the story. “”