Are These Actual Miles?

Raymond Carver, Are These Actual Miles?
Pg. 586

"He listens to the traffic on the highway and considers whethe he should go to the basement, stand on the utility sink, and hang himself with his belt. He understand he is willing to be dead."

In this specific quote, the narrator is in a financial issue that is almost certain to become bankruptcy. The narrator is saying how instead of being filed for bankruptcy, he would rather just take his life. This shows mostly the average citizens desire for reputation and materialistic necessities. The idea of being in bankruptcy is taken very seriously in society. If one is bankrupt in society, people seem to neglect and see them as more of an outkast with a false show of pity. Since materialism was a huge aspect in this time setting, it was important to buy the latest necessities in order to show wealth and therefore raise ones reputation. Without money and a bad reputation, many people (including this narrator) would rather kill themselves.


Raymond Carver, Are These Actual Miles?
Pg. 590

" He remembers waking up the morning after they bought the car, seeing it, there in the drive, in the sun, gleaming."

The narrator is remembering the day when they first bought their new car. However, I feel that Carver used this car as a metaphor to their lifestyle and marriage before the file for bankruptcy. Their life when they bought that car was lavished in materialistic necessities, they exceeded their previous reputations, and they were in the blend of society. The similarity in the society was relevant for them, they lived the perfect suburban lifestyle. With no question in mind about loosing money, they spent their money on everything and the car is an example of their uncontrollble spending of money. The car represents the narrators dream for that perfect lifestyle and yet never looked at the costs for living a lifestyle that one cannot afford.