A Small, Good Thing When reflecting on the daunting uncertainties of life, a man can only be sure that it will be full of suffering. The quiet and pleasant periods of life may give him an appearance of pleasantness, but a person will always be forced to face the onerous trials of his journey. During these times of misfortune, he craves human affection and understanding. Devotedly evolved with their lives, people find it difficult to fight their sense of self to empathize with others, especially when it comes to sharing happiness. However, poverty is so omnipresent that it fosters a sense of kinship with even the most adverse individuals. Raymond Carver captures the dichotomy between apathy and sympathy in his short story “A Small, Good Thing.” Through its juxtaposition of isolation and intimacy, Carver depicts tragedy as a force for camaraderie and solidarity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although individuals set up defenses to support themselves, they find themselves compassionate towards the afflictions of others. Through the evolution of his characters, Carver demonstrates the ability of hardship to bring people together. This concept is captured in the contrasting behavior of Dr. Francis and a patient's family towards Ann, the protagonist, before and after learning of her son's untimely death. Throughout the time he believed Scotty's condition was stable, Dr. Francis was distant, though friendly, toward Ann. He reassures her and her husband without getting emotionally involved in their situation, often ignoring Ann's fear and calling her “little mother.” Carver also mentions on several occasions that Dr. Francis does not know Ann and only offers handshakes to her husband. This subtle detail suggests that Dr. Francis can relate to her husband because they are both men, but cannot connect with Ann because of their gender difference. The dynamic of their relationship changes after Scotty's death. He warms up and offers his deepest condolences. His pain at their loss is so great that he can only say, “I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry,” (8). This paradigm shift in his personality illustrates the struggle between the feeling of confinement and connection, which persists throughout the piece. Ann's meeting with the patient's family also exemplifies this concept. Carver's use of internal dialogue and use of the word “nigger” suggest that the initial detachment stemmed from the racial difference between Ann and the patient's family. The patient's mother initially makes an incorrect assumption, based on Ann's ethnicity, that Ann was a nurse. However, once he realizes his mistake, he immediately "... drops his head on his shoulder and looks away from Ann, no longer interested" (5). However, they bond after sharing their mutual suffering, so the walls separating them begin to crumble and they are able to relate to each other. Using these events in the story Carver juxtaposes the emotions of isolation and understanding, thus reflecting his belief that while individuals are alone in their experiences they can share each other's difficulties and use their mutual misery to bring them together. Carver uses the relationship between Ann and her husband throughout the process of dealing with their son's wound in order to further the idea of ​​alienation versus compassion. While Ann longed for the company of others during such a fragile time, Howard, her husband, longs only for the peace of his own company. Their opposite experiences upon returning home support this point. While.