Maxine

Outer characterization

Maxine is L.D.'s wife in “One More Thing” by Raymond Carver.

It can be assumed that Maxine, like L.D., is also approximately forty years old. She wears a coat with buttons and carries a purse (p. 9, l. 35).

She has a college education (p. 10, l. 28). Her job is unspecified, but since it is night when she arrives home (p. 9, l. 1), she seems to either work long hours or work afternoon shifts. Her job pays well enough for her to afford to pay rent by herself (p. 10, l. 21), but we also know the family lives in a low-rent home.

Inner characterization

Maxine is unhappy with her situation. She refers to her daughter’s refusal to go to school as “another tragedy in a long line of low-rent tragedies” (p. 9, ll. 14-15). This shows that her household is filled with misfortune and she is dissatisfied with this turn of events. She is visibly displeased with her husband’s drunkenness and his behavior (p. 9, l. 7).  She criticizes him and tells him that he has done enough damage in the household already (p...