Structure

“Neighbors” by Raymond Carver has a linear plot structure. The story starts in medias res with the following statement about the two main characters: “Bill and Arlene were a happy couple.” However, this is immediately contradicted as we are informed that the couple feels like they do not have a fulfilling life. Here, their neighbours’ importance to the story becomes clear: 

They talked about it sometimes, mostly in comparison with the lives of their neighbors, Harriet and Jim Stone. It seemed to the Millers that the Stones lived a fuller and brighter life. (p. 86, ll. 4-7).

Thus, already in the beginning it is suggested that the Millers are jealous of their neighbours who seem better at living life to the fullest. 

In the middle part of the story, the Millers start...