Themes

Identity

Raymond Carver explores the theme of identity throughout “Collectors”, in connection with both characters. Aubrey Bell is looking for a Mrs. Slater and is, apparently, at the right address (p. 78, ll. 31-34). Mrs. Slater does not live there, but the narrator could be Mr. Slater. Despite Bell asking on several occasions – “I see you do have a carpet, Mr. …” (p. 79, ll. 8-9) – the narrator never tells Bell his name. Both Bell and the readers are left to assume that the narrator is Mr. Slater, but his identity remains uncertain. 

The theme of identity is also explored in connection to Bell. The narrator seems convinced that Bell is actually a debt collector. This is suggested when he appears to warn Bell that he does not have any money to pay his debts: “You know I can’t pay anything, I said. I couldn’t pay you a dollar if my life depended on it. You’re going to have to write me off as a dead loss, that’s all.” (p. 83, ll. 7-10). While Bell appears to be a salesman who is delivering a prize, he is also strangely insistent on learning the narrator’s name and, at the end, takes a letter addressed to Mr. Slater (p. 83, l. 30). This intrusive ges...