Analysis

The analysis of the short story “Vitamins” by Raymond Carver shows that the narrative structure centers around the narrator’s dissatisfaction with everything that surrounds him. The events spread chronologically over the course of a few months. 

The main characters of the short story are the narrator and his wife, Patti. The story takes a look at the characters’ lack of connection and at their dissatisfaction with their lives.

The story’s physical setting is an unnamed city in the US. Some of the events take place in the narrator’s home, while others take place in the bar called the Off-Broadway, which the narrator is a regular customer of. The social setting deals with gender issues and racism.

The events are described by a first-person narrator, who is also the main character. Unlike most first-person narrators, the account the narrator gives is detached, which points to his lack of emotional involvement.

The story’s language reflects the characters’ backgrounds and feelings and helps readers have a better understanding of the social context. 

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