Everything Stuck To Him

Sometimes less is more. This mantra is exhibited in Raymond Carver’s “Everything Stuck To Him”. Carver chronically uses a minimalistic approach in his stories; this one is no exception. His lack of embellishment actually adds to his works because it acts as symbolism for accessibility. This story is laden with important word choices, making every sentence meaningful to the central ideals. The reader is found looking for more after reading this short story, only to find symbols for the permanency of one’s choices in life. In “Everything Stuck to Him”, Carver uses minimalism, diction and symbolism to influence an intellectual aspect of the reader’s taking. With the deficit of description, voice, and even names for the major characters, the author achieves a sense of intimacy in reading “Everything Stuck to Him”. Minimalism is accomplishing as much meaning in as little words as possible. Carver aimed to portray his themes straightforwardly, inviting an analytical avenue to his works. The reader is forced to look deeper into the dialogue and action to find symbolism between the lines in order to compensate for the supposive barrenness of the storytelling. One example of minimalist oration is “She put a plate in front of him with bacon, a waffle. He spread butter and poured syrup. But when he started to cut, he turned the plate …show more content…
The author communicates in a raw and simple manner in order to create the realism in telling this story like someone would tell it in real life. The choppy sentences, devoid of decorative devices, add to the humbling experience of an old man telling this story. For example, “Hey, the boy said. I’m sorry, the girl said. It’s all right, the boy said. I didn’t mean to snap like that. It was my fault, he said.” This repetitive recount is