Structure

The short story “The Bath” by Raymond Carver follows a chronological structure. The events begin on “Saturday afternoon” (p. 251, l. 1), a few days before Scotty’s birthday, and end on Wednesday. 

The beginning of the story introduces the context and two of the most important characters: Scotty’s mother, Ann Weiss, and the baker. 

Saturday afternoon the mother drove to the bakery in the shopping center. After looking through a loose-leaf binder (…) she ordered chocolate, the child’s favorite. The cake she chose was decorated with a spaceship and a launching pad under a sprinkling of white stars. The name SCOTTY would be ice on in green (…) The baker listened thoughtfully… (p. 251, ll. 1-8)

The initial scene is relevant for the development of the plot, as the baker’s calls later cause...