Short Story Analysis: Cody’s Story

Robert Olmstead’s short story, Cody’s Story, tells the story of two men living together while working as loggers. The older of the duo, G.R., is a veteran logger who people treat with respect due to his rumored reputation. Unlike G.R., the narrator gives the audience more information about Cody’s past. Unable to live with the fact that his wife’s son is not his own, Cody leave his home in New Hampshire with G.R. to “provide” for his family. Although the pair seem to be close friends, G.R. still acts as a father figure by calling Cody “boy” and saying things were his “way or the highway.” He also provides the horse trailer in which they live. The omniscient narrator reveals the Sunday routine of the two men in this particular story, which unfolds over the course of twenty-four hours. While G.R. completes tasks around their campsite, Cody takes a hike to the top of the neighboring hill, where he can see the site below. Atop his perch, Cody dozes off and awakes later in the evening. As he tries to head back down, Cody slips down the face of the hill’s cliff and falls to what he assumes will be his death. G.R. is no longer outside since its late and therefore Cody has no one to help him. Cody endures the fall and makes his way back to the trailer where he ends up getting in a minor tiff with his friend. They retire to bed, not able to sleep due to the extreme cold of the winter. Cody tries to recall the last images in his mind during his near brush with death. He cannot manage to do so for “just as he would begin to get ta lock on one, it would slip from his mind’s grasp and he was left only with an empty feeling.” In order to stay warm, G.R. gets into bed with Cody, who is comforted by the gesture amidst his reoccurring memories of the fall. This gesture alone symbolizes the importance of the relationship between these two seemingly lost souls. Here, Cody realizes the scarceness of his meaningful memories from his former life as a husband and quasi-father. The only thing that can comfort him is the father figure and friend that he often takes for granted while living with him day in and day out.

“Rock Springs” Analysis

Richard Ford’s Rock Springs tells the story of an on-the-run father trying to make a new life for him and his daughter away from his questionably criminal background. The narrator is Earl Middleton and is told from his point of view. The story unfolds during the plight of Earl, his girlfriend Edna, and his daughter from Montana after Earl writes a series of bad checks. Under Earls cunning demeanor lies a confused single father trying to provide for his daughter “anything she wants”  through what he knows best. Earl is not sure of what he wants (i.e. Florida, Edna, etc.) and therefore is constantly running from the consequences of his actions. The only thing he is sure of involves breaking the law. Earl is not a violent person nor does he posses any qualities of what one would classify as a felon; thus, despite his law breaking antics, he means well by his child and others. During the trio’s road trip, Earl doubts the status of the relationship between himself and Edna. These doubts eventually lead to their relationship’s demise and the reader finds Earl marinating on why Edna left. The meaning behind this somewhat unresolved ending is rooted in the notion of what an individual truly needs in life to make oneself whole. Did Earl actually need Edna? We see in the conclusion of this short story that things (the gold mine, Terrel Jr., relationships, a man wandering a parking lot, etc.)  are not always what they seem and therefore not necessarily what an individual needs in the grand scheme of life.

“Cathedral” Analysis

Raymond Carver’s short story Cathedral delves into the thoughts of man encountering a somewhat out of the ordinary social situation for the first time. The narrator, who remains unnamed, divulges his innermost ideas to the reader when his wife’s long-time, blind friend comes to town for a visit. The narrator doesn’t necessarily hate or dislike his wife’s blind friend, Robert, as a person; however, is uncomfortable with the idea of interacting and hosting a person with a handicapped of this magnitude. He is agitated at the lone idea of dealing with something so foreign. Through his first person point of view we catch him making assumptions as well as adjustments in interacting with Robert. Eventually, the narrator lets go of any preconceived notions and realizes that just because Robert is blind does not mean he is inept or overly sensitive. Robert is a person just as the narrator and his wife are people. I found myself thinking the same thoughts as the narrator in regards to situations involving the blind. How will they get upstairs? How will they eat? Etc. As I ready, I had the same concerns as the narrator only moments before his ideas were stated in the short story. To me, this is an example of straight forward writing that still manages to enforce a solid and insightful point. Despite the subtle poetry and substance of this piece, I found it delivered a deep meaning nonetheless: the beauty of embracing the unknown, the way a blind man does daily.