The short story written by Tobias Wolff in 1985 entitled Say Yes, manages to remind us with mostly the written dialog of the story that there were and possible still are conflicts within society of whether Caucasians and African Americans should marry. Whats more, is the author also getting across the point that no matter how much we think that we know someone, we really dont. Although the husband loved his wife, Ann, he was beginning to realize the contrast between then because of her persistence about interracial marriages.
This short story is written in limited omniscient allowing the reader to only have access to the husbands thoughts and because he is the one that the story follows at all times. This is established by Ann walking from the kitchen into the living room and by the story following the husband as he picked up the garbage pail and went outside (1387). As the husband was observing the stars to the west, he felt ashamed that he had let his wife get him into a fight (1387).
The only two characters in this story are the husband and his wife and the topic of whether white people should marry black people came up while he was assisting with the dishes (1385). Ann takes a static stance on her beliefs, while the antagonist husband is barely dynamic in nature. In brief, all things considered, he thought it was a bad idea until he wants to make it up to [her] (1385, 1387). Ann, on the other hand, doesnt see whats wrong with a white person marrying a black person (1385). Growth As soon as the characters start talking about this subject the plot begins to graph the rising tension causing the equilibrium to be off.
This discussion between them causes a conflict of person -vs-person by Ann wanting to know whether he would have married her if she would have been black and demanding an answer of yes or no(1386). The husband contributes to this conflict by snapping at her with anger(1385). From the opening of the story to very end, the story leaves out any definite setting, which suggests that this conflict could occur anywhere. Furthermore, the husband stated that they dont come from the same culture as we do(1385), implying in an indirect way that this augment could be other than black and white cultures.
By the author only giving a name to the wife and not the husband he expressed a tone that indicates racism is more common among men than women. The complications continue when he dumped all the silverware back into the sink saying these are still dirty (1385). This caused Ann to become even more furious by the way the author described her lips as being presses tightly together and the fact that she plunged her hands under the surface (1385). The result of her actions of anger contributed to the cut on her thumb caused by the silverware.
Regardless of the situation at hand the husband showed concern for his wife because he ran upstairs to the bathroomfor a band aid(1385). The plot of this story happens in chronological order and continues to grow due to each characters morals and logic. The husband trying desperately to end the conversation uses his logic of If you were black you wouldnt be you (1386). Anns values were based more on love with less importance on skin color as she drilled her husband for an honest answer to her question, will you marry me (1386).
The turning point transpires when the husband made a decision and took action by leaning against the bathroom door and whispering, Ill marry you (1387). After this took place the resolution of the plot set in and the tension was released from the two characters. Following the husbands right answer that he finally gave the falling action was triggered when Ann requests him to turn off the light (1387). This request probably is made because she does not feel comfortable exposing herself in front of the man she thought she knew.
The bedroom is dark and all that the husband hears is a movement across the room similar to that of a Stranger (1388). The last sentence describing the husband as hearing a sound of someone moving through the house, a stranger, reiterates to him that there are some really large contrasts between him and Ann (1388). In addition to the sound of her voicea definite note that was strange to him, he [had] thought of the years they had spent together,and how well they knew each other(1387), when in fact they didnt. This realization finally became apparent upon going to be bed that night.
