Analysis Of The Students Wife By Raymond Carver - 1060 Words

On the first read of The Student’s Wife by Raymond Carver, it seems this is a story of a man who is trying to sleep and a woman who is simply nagging. This short essay will convey the depth and significance of both trying to sleep and nagging. The text is only effective in the third person omniscient perspective. Carver utilizes, through perspective and clever language, the ability to see into the mind of each character at specific times. The reader sees and hears what is required to be heard and who is required to be seen and heard from. The story title is the first impression given by the story: a woman who is the wife of a student. Nan is not much more than a housewife, or so it seems in the beginning. To begin with, the role of†¦show more content†¦After waking up from the interruption of no longer being read to, Nan wants a sandwich. Mike doesn’t reply and pretends to sleep, becoming an ostrich— I can’t see you, you can’t see me. Mike opens his eyes to reveal a wide-eyed Nan to which he asks â€Å"’Can’t you go to sleep Nan?’ he said, very solemnly†. The role of language is imperative; the text must move forward and continue to give the impression that Mike is not acknowledging Nan’s persistent yearning to be acknowledged. The story utilizes the omniscient perspective, perhaps most effectively after Nan asks Mike if he remembers the time they had gone away for a weekend after getting married. â€Å"I remember† Mike says, but in reality â€Å"He did not remember well, he thought. What he did remember was loud half-baked ideas about life and art, and he did not want to remember that.† Mike makes it clear he doesn’t want to remember the story by telling Nan â€Å"That was a long time ago.† The text is stylized in such a way that the story tells the reader that Mike does not want to remember Nan’s story twice without giving the impression of repetition. From Nan’s perspective, we see that she wishes to get information out of Mike, no matter how arbitrary. But, Nan gives Mike the impression that she is ready to fall asleep by saying â€Å"Just hold me and get me off to sleep. I can’t go to sleep.† The language used declares that all Mike must do is hold Nan and she will be off to sleep. Shortly