Setting

Physical setting

The events described in the short story “Vitamins” by Raymond Carver take place in an unnamed city in the US. The characters mention Arizona and Portland as places where they wish they could go. When Patti complains to the narrator, she mentions moving to Arizona: “We were talking about (…) how maybe we'd be better off if we moved to Arizona, some place like that”. Sheila wants to quit her job and move to Portland, and Donna thinks about Portland towards the end of the story:

'Maybe I could go up to Portland,' she said. 'There must be something in Portland. Portland is on everybody's mind these days. Portland's a drawing card. Portland this, Portland that. Portland's as good a place as any. It's all the same.'

The two cities become symbols of escape and suggest ...