In the short story “Distance,” Raymond Carver uses the image of scraping away the ice on the boy’s car to show how people are able to make rational decisions when in a neutral environment. As the tension reaches its peak, the girl issues an ultimatum to the boy, giving the choice of either the family or Carl. The overwhelming choice fogs the boy’s mind, leaving him unable to make a decision and instead prepares his gear and heads outside.
After “[making] a job of” clearing away the ice on his car, the boy looks through his windows to see a star-spangled sky. As if like water, the brisk morning air condenses the boy’s previously clouded judgment into clear ice and just like the ice on his car, the boy is able to scrape it away to find a mental
After “[making] a job of” clearing away the ice on his car, the boy looks through his windows to see a star-spangled sky. As if like water, the brisk morning air condenses the boy’s previously clouded judgment into clear ice and just like the ice on his car, the boy is able to scrape it away to find a mental