An analysis of Vitamins a short story by Raymond Carver - Essay Example

Patti attests to it herself on claiming that in early years of her youth, it is something she would not figure herself doing or one that occurs to be a last resort. While it generally sounds to be freaking a hell out of the female characters in Patti, Sheila, and Donna, the storyteller being the only guy among them exhibits the opposite or passive role in relation to the three. His function appears to serve a neutralizing effect in the middle where similarities reflect across the intertwined lives of the three women who have spanned control of themselves beyond his weak influence at providing comfort.

As an irony in the theme, the vitamins sold by Patti, Sheila, Donna, and the hospital where he works are altogether symbolic of a prevention or cure to sickness however, as these characters remain attached to their conventional situation, the routine with vitamins and hospital augments the conflict and no resolution is found in the absence of external intervention or consideration of possible alternatives that would shift the level of personal undertaking for each. (2) Do the main characters' personalities, behavior and goals change during the story?

If so, how? Significant change is not evident in the outlook and the way by which the narrator manages getting confronted by the challenges set by Patti. He briefly states in the beginning that Patti was first unemployed and by deciding to reverse this fate and give herself respect on working to sell vitamins makes positive hint or direction at progress from the initial condition as Patti even reaches the point of having people put under her supervision. This status, nevertheless, becomes unfulfilled since the state of economy and consumerism turns out not in favor of supplement acquisition, implying that in reality there exists a number of concerns far more worthy of savings and investment than vitamins are.

In the manner R. Carver channels the thoughts and observations of the narrating main character, a reader can feel a degree of needing to promote an element of transformation in his life as well as how this might impact that of Patti’s. As the story proceeds to gather the cast in a Christmas party to somewhat alleviate and enliven the dull, sickening mood with the bad economic trend of vitamin business, Sheila triggers rivalry with the male narrator yet escapes to make way for Donna in weaving new circumstances for Patti’s lover.

A sense of seduction through Donna’s character takes the storyteller to an attempt at infidelity, leaving his fed-up partner to yield to a momentary space and grasp beyond the world with Patti in a newer dimension at Off-Broadway with Donna. Somehow, he develops another perspective in an appreciation of Khaki who seems to love his work as a bouncer, as opposed to Patti. Clearly, this event suggests that he is up for a change or for something to challenge his way out of the lifeless endeavor and depressed mode of living.

At the instant Nelson comes over with Benny to lure Donna with money and gradually snatch here away from him, he allows a couple of moments to pass as if no real peril lurks. Here,