Perspectives

Literary perspective

“Tell the Women We’re Going” by Raymond Carver is an example of dirty realism, as shown by its language style and themes, as well as by the character’s internal conflict. The language style is casual and minimalistic, using few figures of speech, few adjectives, and many verbs, focusing mainly on straightforward descriptions of the events as they take place. Jerry's internal conflict is mainly hinted at through his words and actions.

The characters are common people presented in ordinary daily circumstances, which contributes to the strong impression of realism. They are struggling with issues such as alcoholism and dissatisfaction with their present condition. The events depicted in the story are mundane, with the exception of the mur...