A Small, Good Thing
Raymond Carver's "A Small, Good Thing," is an essay that closely resembles contemporary life and captures the excruciating anguish of a parent's sense of helplessness and overall isolation. Elements of empathy, compassion, and understanding entice readers into thinking about their own lives--and even their own mortality and familial relationships.
From the very beginning, Carver purposely withholds the characters' proper names. Instead he refers to them as "she" or "the baker," etc. Doing so shows that modern life is often characterized by impersonality.
Carver also addresses a human being's life purpose. For example, the baker, like many people who work in contemporary society, doesn't live his passion. He aimlessly drifts around, goes to work, does his job and just makes food to celebrate other people's happiness. His own life is void of such festivities, and it is this resentment that causes him to prank call Ann and Howard, the parents of a hospitalized little boy.
Like most contemporary mothers, Ann is visibly anxious about her son's health, and she acts just like any mother would in contemporary society by staying by her son's side. Howard, though, appears more insecure and needs assurances. Like most contemporary fathers, he wants proof that his son will be and seeks it from the doctor.
As the essay ends, though, we find that Ann and Howard lose their son, Scotty. When Scotty takes his last breath, and his parents realize that he is gone, they are huddle together. Ann, ever the mother, even consoles here husband, saying, "There, there, Howard he's gone." Clearly, the two have a strong relationship based on love and compassion.
Moreover, the baker changes by the essay's end. "He served them [Ann and Howard] warm cinnamon rolls just out of the oven, the icing still runny." The baker is no longer cold and disinterested, but kind and compassionate. People can learn to help another, especially in times of need....
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