An Analysis on the Similarities and Differences in...

In Raymond Carvers The Bath and rewritten version of the story entitled A Small, Good Thing, the author tells the same tale in different ways, and to different ends, creating variegated experiences for the reader. Both stories have the same central plot and a majority of details remain the same, but the effects that the stories have upon the reader is significantly different. The greatest character difference is found in the role of the Baker, and his interaction with the other characters. The sparse details, language and sentence structure of The Bath provide a sharp contrast emotionally and artistically to A Small Good Thing. In many ways, The Bath proves to have a more emotional impact because of all that it doesnt say;†¦show more content†¦The story quickly becomes dramatic. The morning of his birthday, Scotty is hit by a car on the way to school. The differences in these paragraphs are subtle, but worth examination. In both cases, Scotty is walking to school with his friend, eating chips, trying to determine what his pal is getting him for his birthday: an innocent moment of childhood. This moment is abruptly shattered by Scotty being hit by a car. Scottys reaction to the accident remains the same. The stories differ here in there reactions of the other two people at the accident scene, the driver and Scottys companion. In The Bath the young friend of Scotty does not seem to fully understand what happened. He does not seem to be in shock like Scotty, just too young to understand his friend is hurt, â€Å"The other boy stood holding potato chips. He was wondering if he should finish the rest or continue on to school† (Carver 920) In contrast, â€Å"A Small Good Thing† the boy â€Å"dropped the potato chips and started to cry† (Carver ). The driver in The Bath never stops after hitting Scotty and is never even mentioned, beyond the car, but in A Small Good Thing, â€Å"The car had gone a hundred feet or so and stopped in th e middle of the road. The man