Analysis

The analysis of the short story “Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?” by Raymond Carver reveals that the plot follows a linear, chronological plot structure, with elements of flashback. The plot is divided into two parts, and the second part seems to mirror the first part.

The main character is Ralph Wyman, a high-school teacher who finds out that his wife cheated on him two years ago. Other characters are Ralph’s wife, Marian and Mitchell Anderson who appears only in flashbacks.

The main physical setting is the town of Eureka in northern California, where Ralph and Marian own a house. Most of the action takes place on a Sunday night, in November. The social setting explores issues of an upper-middle-class upbringing, and their impact on one's beliefs. It also deals with topics such as infidelity, domestic violence, excessive drinking, and gender issues.

The story is told from the point of view of a third-person narrator who is limited to Ralph’s perspective. The narrator focuses on Ralph's emotions and on the way he is affected by the news that his wife has cheated on him.

The language of the story is mostly formal, and there are several long words and expressions which are rarely used in everyday conversation. The language used in dialogues is informal, and there are a lot of exclamations, which convey the rising tension in the narrative.

You can read a more detailed analysis in the following pages.