Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The Bath” by Raymond Carver shows that the narrative has a chronological structure. The events take place over the course of a few days, from before Scotty’s birthday to two days after his accident.

The main characters of the story are Ann Weiss – Scotty’s mother – and Scotty’s father. The narrative follows the two parents as they try to deal with their feelings after Scotty’s car accident. 

The story’s physical setting shows that the events described in the story take place in different locations. Some of the events take place in the bakery, while others take place in the hospital or in the Weiss family home. 

The events are described by a third-person narrator, who is outside the events and functions as an observer. The narrator mainly adopts the perspectives of Scotty’s parents, so readers can understand how they feel and how they deal with a difficult situation. 

The language used in the story is neutral and reflects Carver’s minimalist style, which allows readers to avoid distractions and focus on what is being told. 

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages.