Analysis

Here, we offer you a summary of the most important aspects we touched upon when analysing the story  “Joe” by Peter Carey.

The short story is structured around a single event in the characters’ life—a rape committed by one of the narrator’s brothers, Joe. The story is focused on how the other characters perceive Joe. For the narrator and the rest of the family Joe is different

Joe is the titular character of the short story, the one whom the narration is about. The narrator is the second most important character in the story, as the text focuses on his opinion about his family and Joe

Regarding its setting, it probably takes place in the '60s, with the physical setting represented by the narrator’s family house in Australia. The social setting of the story suggests a strange family life.

“Joe” is a first-person narration. The story is told from the point of view of the male narrator who is probably a teenager (he shaves, and his coat is too big for Joe who is 16 years old).

The language is simple and easy to follow. Most of the sentences are short and descriptive, and the choice of words is related to family life and relationships.

Read the entire analysis of the story in the next pages of the guide!