Analysis

The short story “We Do Not Deal in Guilt or Blame” by Kate London has a circular structure in the sense that the story begins and ends with an argument between the couple. However, the narrator’s way of dealing with the final argument is very different from her reaction in the beginning. The story follows events from the narrator’s life in chronological order as she tries to figure out who she is and how to deal with her unhealthy relationship.

The main characters of the story are the unnamed narrator and her older boyfriend. The story looks at the power imbalance in their relationship and the way that they deal with different conflicts that arise. The narrator’s development is an important aspect in the story. 

The physical setting is London, in the United Kingdom. The social setting explores class differences illustrated by the narrator and her boyfriend.

The story has a first-person narrator who is also the main character. The narrator recounts a few events in her life over the course of a few months. 

The language is marked by an informal style of writing in lines 1-11 as it reflects the main characters’ casual style of conversation with each other. The story also features several symbols which enhance its meaning and reflect the narrator’s development. 

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