Low Income Family In Little Things By Raymond Carver

Raymond Carver uses symbolism in “Little Things” to construct an image of a low income families’ dramatic and violent relationship, and the consequences that they face as a result. Carver describes the betrayal, despair, poor communication, and damaged relationship of the young family while using the weather, light, a flowerpot, and a baby as symbols to establish a deeper connection with his reader. The characters in this short story are a young desperate couple and their baby. The scene takes place on a cold dreary winter day in a very small home. Carver shows how the relationship is coming to an end as the intensity of the scene increases while the couple argue and fight over who will take the baby, ultimately resulting in the finality of

The dirty water now portrays a picture of the escalating situation now taking place inside the small home. He describes how the muddy water runs down the outside of the window. Readers can imagine tears running down the mothers face as she begins to cry, and the baby’s wet eyes as he wails. Carver also implies here that the couple’s relationship was peaceful in the early stages, just as the weather was peaceful in the early day. In addition to the weather, Carver also uses light as a symbol in “Little

As the couples’ argument intensifies any morals they have are thrown to the wind, they turn to despair trying to hurt their partner by taking the baby away with no regard to the little ones physical or emotional state, ultimately resulting in the baby being torn apart. Is it possible that the couples low social class has an impact on their ethical code in this story? Irving Howe writes a critical assessment of Carvers work stating, “They are not bad or stupid; they merely lack the capacity to understand the nature or their deprivation-the one thing, as it happens, that might ease or redeem it.” Would the betrayal that happened between the couple have a different outcome if they had a more comfortable living situation? What if they were a more educated couple, therefore having a better lifestyle? Would the baby still be alive if the couple was raised in a religious environment, or if they had the benefits and resources of a higher social