Popular Mechanics

The minimalism of the setting helps the tone in that it gets right to the important issue of the story, which is the tone of the feelings between the couple. The story is set on a bleak winter night in which it is dark not only outside but also inside. That description helped set the tone for the rest of the conflict between the husband and wife. It’s not really important to know much more about the couple of the setting.

Streaks of snow running down the windows of the cars outside, the window that allowed no light, the darkness inside the house, and the near-dark of the kitchen in the house. All of these little descriptions are foreshadowing of the ultimate tragedy that happened in that house.

We are not exactly sure why they are splitting up, but we do know that he did something wrong because she is the one expressing much anger and hurt towards him and he is motionless and quiet until she take the picture of the baby. I’m not sure it matters that much why they split. The fact that he cant even look her in the face shows that he is guilty of a crime worth splitting up over. She wants him out! The irony to me is in the end of the story when he states that, “the issue was decided”. He uses sarcasm to express the stupidity of the struggle between the couple that ultimately ended in disaster that could have easily been avoided.