Analysis Of We Live In Water By Susan Walter

In 2015, of people surveyed, 90% of people aged 18-25 had used methamphetamine in the past year. Each one of those people has a family that is also affected, as much or even more so than the addict in question. Addicts and their families’ perspectives are often ignored, but in his short story collection We Live in Water, Jess Walter explores their perspectives, along with other fringe members of society. Walter focuses on the members of society that many consider “problematic” or “distasteful”, such as the homeless, drug addicts, and broken families. Jess Walter’s vivid use of characterization brings to the forefront of our attention the important, but often ignored perspectives of families that have fallen victim to drug abuse. Walter’s use …show more content…
For example, in “Wheelbarrow Kings”, the shopkeeper asks Daryl and Mitch “if I give you tweakers a scone will you get the fuck out of here” (150). Walter’s use of dialogue here gives us a view of our own treatment of people and things that we dislike. Instead of solving a difficult and unattractive problem such as addiction, our instinct is to sweep it under the rug. As a rule, we avoid at all costs looking at the ugly side of ourselves, which is what solving problems like addiction is. As a result, addicts and their families undergo constant abuse from others, and they never get back on their feet because no one is willing to help them up. But while some people strive to help addicts and their families get back on their feet, most people will turn and run at the first sign of addiction. Another example of this can be found in “Don’t Eat Cat” when the speaker finds out Marci has been using Replexen. Instead of asking about Marci’s health, the speaker demands to know where she got it and grabs her arm to see the marks, after which Marci “shrank away from me, cried, apologized, promised to get treatment” (95). Walter’s use of diction and dialogue here characterizes the speaker as being more concerned about the facts of Marci using drugs , rather than why she’s using drugs. The speaker is looking for a simple, easy to understand answer when there is none, as there is never a simple answer for …show more content…
Perhaps because addiction is so widespread, yet their perspectives are among the least discussed. While important, their perspectives are ignored, especially for the families of drug addicts, who are written off along with the addict in question. There are many layers to someone’s perspective that we do not, or refuse to see because it does not agree with our world views. The world needs more people like Jess Walter. The world needs people who are brave enough to see things as they are, instead of how we wish them to be. All it takes is an open mind, the courage to strike up a conversation and ask questions, and the willingness to see the