The Short Story 'Good People' By David Foster Wallace

The short story "Good People" was written by David Foster Wallace and it was published in the February 5, 2007 issue of the New Yorker. The short story potrayts a story line following the tumultuous thoughts of a 19 years old boy as he sits on a bench in quiet with is pregnant girlfriend and deals with the very important matter of an unwanted pregnacy which contrasts their values and beliefs. Wallace's preferences of devices and techniques on the narrative point of view clearly affect the reader in order to understand the short story's thematic lines. In the short story, the author uses the techniques of the interior monologue, which is the attempt to represent a character's mental activity, thoughts and impressions, in coordination with the free direct style in order to expose the story's themes which are faith versus responsibilities and …show more content…
Lane A. Dean, Jr., is considered to be a vicious anti-abortion protestor because of his faith. However,as the reader understands by his thoughts, he does not seem to be able to make such an important decision and keep the baby because of his immaturity as the reader understands by the phrase "he pretended to himself he did not know what it was that was required". Furthermore, throughout the text, Lane always remembers his faith and he mentions the phrases "tried to pray", "he was starting to believe that he might not be serious in his faith" and "he knew now why it was a true sin". Regarding the setting, the simple statement "there are not any ducks in view" symbolises the lack of life Lane wants. Last but not least, it takes place in the spring time which is associated with life and birth which foreshadows Lane's decision, after coming to terms with the religious aspects, to stay with Sheri and keep the