Short Fiction

The title of the short story I have selected to represent one side of conceit is "Little Thing" by Raymond Carver.

I believe the significance of this story is the dialouge. They jump right into the story after describing the setting and right into what is going on. The dialouge shows how angry and upset the wife is to the husband. I can tell by the arguement they are sharing, that the wife is angry with the husband because of something he has done. "I'm glad you're leaving! I'm glad you're leaving! she said. Do you hear? He kept on putting his things into the suitcase. " (Carver 2). Even though this text can be interpreted as the husband leaving because of something the wife did, you can tell how conceited the husband is. By whatever actions he had done before, and by how he was grabbing onto his son, not caring about what the wife thinks or how is son is. Just as long as he gets what he wants. "But he would not let go. He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided." (Carver 35).

. . . This story of the fighting couple shows a good example of the side of Self conceitedness leading to self-destruction. Not only in this story, did the father lead himself to self destruction, he led his wife and his son into destruction too. This is because, when the wife and husband were fighting over the son, they grabbed onto each part of the child's body, and must have harmed the child which left them paralyiszed with shame. From the act of hurting the child, it must have left them feeling destructed inside. Knowing that they hurt their own child. The child was led into self destruction by the parents, he was pulled until his body couldn't take it, and he passed away. This story is similiar to my own short story. Such as how the couple is fighting over something that had occured. Like in the story of "Little things".
The quote of " I want the baby, he said.

Are you crazy?

No, but I want the baby. I'll get someone to come by for his things.

You're not touching this baby, she said." (Carver 12 - 15) shows clearly how the couple is fighting over their baby. As to where in my story, they are fighting over Jacob's attitude. Though in my story, it's clear that the husband is conceited, as to where, in Carver's story, it's hidden. Because of their conceitedness, they are both led into self destruction of some sort. . .