Discussing “A Small, Good Thing” by Raymond Carver
What values does Carver bring forward in his story through experiences with food?
In his short story, “A Small, Good Thing”, Raymond Carver shows how sharing food can help aide the healing process of grief and loneliness by bringing people together. Struck with heartbreak and loss, Ann and Howard Weiss are at odds with the baker who made their late son’s birthday cake, and who keeps calling them and hanging up to remind them to pick it up. Sensitive from their recent loss, the incessant phone calls enrage them both, especially Ann, causing them to go down to the bakery in the middle of the night to confront the baker. But short lived was the confrontation when grief over took Ann and the accident was revealed to the baker. His heartfelt apology and confession to loneliness erased their anger at him, and he had them sit and eat food. He said, “I hope you’ll eat some of my hot rolls. You have to eat and keep going. Eating is a small, good thing in a time like this” (p. 217). From this action we can see the selfless generosity of the baker, who stopped his work to comfort and provide nourishment for the grieving couple. While there is not much he can say during this time to help them, he can encourage them to take care of themselves at this hard time by providing them with good, warm food to help them “keep going”.
By providing the couple with something to eat, the baker gained ears to listen to his own hardships that he struggles with. Listening to him allowed the couple to distract themselves from their current situation and just focus on eating and listening. For the baker, they provided him with a break from the isolation and a chance to connect with others. As the author describes, “They listened carefully. Although they were tired and in anguish, they listened to what the baker had to say. They nodded when the baker began to speak of loneliness and of the sense of doubt and limitation that had come to him in his middle years” (p. 218). The mutual kindness shown by the couple and the baker as they share food is something that benefits each party. The baker’s generosity aides his own healing process, as he gained listeners to hear his story. Ultimately this goes to show how a little kindness can go a long way.
