One of the most important aspects of Raymond Carver’s Little Things is the symbolism that is present throughout the story. Some of the most significant symbols include the things that Mrs. Ramona asks her husband to get for her, as well as the items that she takes with her when she leaves him.
The first thing that Mrs. Ramona asks her husband to get for her is a pair of shoes. This is significant because shoes are often seen as a symbol of liberation and independence. By asking her husband to buy her a pair of shoes, Mrs. Ramona is indicating that she is ready to move on from her marriage and start fresh.
Another important symbol in Little Things is the suitcase that Mrs. Ramona takes with her when she leaves her husband. This suitcase represents all of the things that Mrs. Ramona has accumulated over the course of her marriage. It contains all of the memories and experiences that she has shared with her husband, as well as all of the hopes and dreams that she has for the future. By taking this suitcase with her, Mrs. Ramona is indicating that she is ready to leave the past behind and move on with her life.
The symbols in Raymond Carver’s Little Things are important because they help to convey the themes of independence and change that are present in the story. They also serve as a reminder that even the smallest things can have a significant impact on our lives.
In “Little Things” by Raymond Carver, the narrator uses an ironic title to depict a dreary setting in which two people are seemingly battling with more than just their relationship. Carver’s talent for depicting a picture that tells two stories at once with symbolism is quite remarkable. It is discovered while reading about a man and woman who want to divorce that there is a larger, perhaps darker situation, using symbols.
For instance, in the story there are numerous references to cutting. The protagonist mentions a time when his partner “went at herself with a razor” and how he thought she was trying to kill herself. There is also mention of how the protagonist would like to cut his own wrists. These references could be interpreted as Carver symbolically portraying how the relationship was slowly killing both parties involved. The blade references could also be interpreted as representing how easily things can be cut, whether it be through relationships, communication, or life itself.
Furthermore, there are several instances where water is referenced throughout the story. The woman frequently asks the protagonist to take her swimming and talks about how much she loves being in the water. Swimming is often seen as a metaphor for cleansing, which could be interpreted to suggest that the woman is trying to cleanse herself of the relationship and her own past.
The protagonist also talks about how he used to love swimming in the ocean but can no longer do so because it reminds him of his father’s death. The ocean can be interpreted as a symbol for life itself and how it can be both beautiful and deadly. In this case, the protagonist is refusing to face his past and the memories associated with it.
Overall, Raymond Carver’s “Little Things” is a story that is full of symbolism. Each reference provides an additional layer of meaning that helps to portray the characters and their situation in a more profound way. Carver’s use of irony and Symbolism is masterful and serves to create a truly unique reading experience.
The dark side of life, as Carver illustrates, includes things like the death of a loved one or becoming enslaved to alcohol and cigarettes. “Early that morning, the weather changed and the snow melted into dirty water” sets the tone for what lies ahead for this couple in much the same way as most couples start off believing that their love is as pure as snow.
However, as the story progresses the snow begins to melt and Carver uses this as a metaphor for the relationship.
The water starts off clean but quickly becomes dirty as it mixes with all of the other snow on the ground. This is reflective of how relationships can quickly turn sour when negativity and arguments begin to pile up. By the end of the story, not only is the relationship falling apart but also the physical things in their life are breaking such as cups and plates.
Symbolically, these broken objects represent how the couple is no longer able to function together and have essentially fallen apart. Carver shows us that even something as small as a little thing can have a big impact if left unnoticed.
In that weather had already reached its peak, according to Carver; it demonstrates that the worst of the weather is now apparently over, and the storm’s aftermath is beginning to melt and dissolve the joy and love that the pair once knew. “The snow melting into filthy water outside” symbolizes the purity and innocence of their love as it gradually becomes something foul, unwanted, and unclean (Carver 35). This is bolstered by the following sentence, which reads, “Cars slushed on the street outside where it was growing dark, but it was also getting dark inside.”
This line emphasizes how the darkness is creeping in and taking over not just the exterior but also the interior of their relationship.
The final symbol in this story is the “little things”. These can be interpreted as all of the little things that either led to the downfall of their relationship or were a sign of things to come. Examples of this could be the wife forgetting to pick up her husband from work, leaving dishes in the sink, or not being interested in sex anymore. Each of these examples may seem small on their own, but when taken together they created a big enough rift between the couple that led to their eventual break-up.
In conclusion, Little Things is a story rife with symbolism that highlights how even seemingly small things can have a big impact on a relationship. Carver does a masterful job of using these symbols to show how the relationship slowly unravels until it is no more.
