The Symbolism Of Break In Popular Mechanics By Raymond Carver

The word “break” often means that something no longer works and cannot be restored. In the flash fiction piece “Popular Mechanics,” Raymond Carver uses a flowerpot breaking to portray severed relationships and the consequences that come along with the parents’ actions in the story. Another symbol he uses is the progression of darkness, Although the development of darkness proves that the parent’s argument will not stop until something tragic occurs, throughout the story, the destruction of the flowerpot is a significantly stronger symbol of the depth of damage done in the household.
The breaking of the flowerpot occurs at the climax of the story as soon as the fight starts to become physical, which foreshadows how the story will end. At the