A Small Good Thing

The story’s main character—and its only woman—is Ann Howard. Ann is 33 years old and is apparently a homemaker; when Scotty has his accident on a Monday, she’s waiting at home for him while Howard works. A caring mother, Ann plans a party for her son and orders him a cake. Beyond that, though, Carter reveals little about what animates her. Her only hopes and dreams seem to be in the domestic realm, as a good mother to Scotty and a husband to Howard.

Carver depicts her interactions with the men in the story as being wrought with male condescension toward her. Among several examples of this pervasive paternalism, a remark from Dr. Francis’ to her is perhaps the most flagrant: “Try not to worry, little mother” (383). Other passages show that Ann has internalized this paternalism, as when she chides herself after asking Howard to pray for Scotty. When he reveals that he already has, Ann thinks: “She realized with a start that, until now, it had only been happening to her and to Scotty. She hadn’t let Howard into it, though he was there and needed all along. She felt glad to be his wife” (384). Ann’s conception of grief for her stricken son must incorporate Howard; otherwise she perceives herself as failing him somehow.