Vitamins by Raymond Carver (Character of the Narrator)

 

Vitamins

by Raymond Carver

(Character of the Narrator) 

The story has been put down in a narrative style and flows through a series of connections that are even unconnected to each other. The incidents and dialogues are all seen through the eyes of the narrator who remains unnamed throughout and relates the events in the first person.

At the beginning of the story, we are told that Patti does not have a job but the narrator does. While this evokes a feeling of respect for him, it is soon dispelled when he dismisses it as, “It is a nothing job. I did some work, signed the card for eight hours, went drinking with the nurses.” Patti wants to improve her life: “After a while Patti wanted a job. She said she needed a job for her self-respect but there is the glaring contrast between her and the narrator who comes across as someone with no self-respect. His drinking is the current that runs throughout the story and we see him drinking too much and much too often. He drinks too much and too often and we form our judgement about his character and personality that is reflected in his actions, speech and reactions during his bouts of drinking. He has no qualms about seducing his live-in partner’s best friend but when the date turns out badly, he couldn’t care less what happened to her or where she went. He shows the same indifference to Sheila when she leaves his house after a quarrel. This reveals how insensitive and callous he can be. He also makes love to Patti by fantasizing about Donna, thus reinforcing our view regarding the dishonest streak in his character.

The narrator comes across as a pretty worthless person who would go to any lengths, make any compromises, settle for anything as long as he is comfortable.