Setting

Physical setting

The story “Fat” by Raymond Carver takes place in the US (since we learn at one point the overweight customer is from Denver). The time setting is August, “late of a slow Wednesday” (p. 3, l. 5). Most of the story is set in a restaurant, and later, at the home of Rudy and the narrator. The story is recounted by the narrator as she sits over coffee and cigarettes at her friend Rita’s.

The atmosphere of an evening in a restaurant is vividly depicted by the fact that the narrator constantly appears to be on the move: she takes the man’s order, she hurries away to the kitchen and turn in the order (p. 3, l. 30), and then back, she goes to the other tables to cater to the other customers, some of whom are very demanding (p. 3, ll. 13-15). She also makes the Caesar salad at the table in front of her customer and puts the finishing touches on his main course (p. 5, ll. 15-17). At home, the narrator is also relegated the role of “server” as she is the one who makes the tea and brings it to Rudy, along with the sugar ...