An In-Depth Analysis of Symbolism in Raymond Carvers’ Short Stories “Careful” and “Where I’m Calling From”

The purpose of symbolism in the short stories “Careful” and “Where I’m Calling From” is to provide footing for the motifs of alcoholism and marital problems. These two motifs are reoccurring in many of Carver’s stories and their commonality in his writing is a result of Carver’s background. In his lifetime, Carver had two wives and he suffered from alcoholism. He used symbolism to explore alcoholism and marital problems in both “Careful” and “Where I’m Calling From”. The symbolism Carver uses is varied and demonstrates how alcoholism and marital discord are often intertwined.

In both “Careful” and “Where I’m Calling From”, Carver uses the symbol of champagne. Contrastingly in “Careful” it represents the character’s denial of alcoholism. While in “Where I’m Calling From”, champagne is a symbol for relapsing into alcoholism. Champagne is a lighter alcohol and often used for celebrating. But in this case Carver uses it to provide the characters with an excuse to continue to drink. “In the beginning, he’d really thought he could continue drinking if he limited himself to champagne. But in no time he found he was drinking three or four bottles a day.” (P.271-2). Carver shows that Lloyd thought that he could keep his drinking at a minimum and consume a lighter alcohol. But in truth he was blind to his condition and he used alcohol as a coping mechanism for when his life got hard. In contrast to “Careful”, Carver uses champagne as a symbol for a relapse of alcoholism in “Where I’m Calling From”. The first time the narrator is taken to Frank Martin’s drying-out facility, he is taken by his wife. Who stays a couple hours to talk to Frank Martin and make sure that her husband is adjusted. Although the second time he goes, he is driven ...

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...hing. She’ll ask where I’m calling from, and I will have to tell her.” (P.296) Again Carver says that he will “try and call my wife”, showing that he has some reserve about talking to her. Fear that he might miscommunicate and tell her that he is still an alcoholic. This is where Carver got the title for his story, “Where I’m Calling From”. The idea that he is back at Frank Martin’s shows that he has began drinking again. Which is proving his wife right by leaving him. In both “Careful” and “Where I’m Calling From”, Carver uses symbolism to show the lack of communication which led to the marital problems in both relationships.

Alcoholism is often measured in stages. The alcoholic will start with a lighter drink and then slowly spiral into a series of violence and lies. Carver uses the symbols of deceit and violence to show the character’s decent into alcoholism.