Raymond Carver’s Narrative Poetics: An Analysis of the Narrative Functions of “Key” and “Cat” in Neighbors

Abstract

In Raymond Carver’s Neighbors, why does Bill, the protagonist, always have a sudden high sexual desire? What’s the use of frequent and large numbers of cats, keys and other objects? So far, almost all the relevant discussions have ignored the narrative function of “object” in the novel. In fact, the “object” as an “actor” radiates its mysterious and powerful power all the time, arouses a series of illusions and desires of the characters, affects their thoughts and actions, and finally highlights their “ontology” because of the sudden disappearance of the object, smashes the dream of the protagonists, and causes the characters and readers to think deeply about the relationship between people, objects and real life.