Carver leaves much of the narrator’s background a mystery. What effect does this have on the story as a whole? How does it impact your interpretation of the narrator’s addiction, and of the narrator himself?

Research the history of stigma surrounding alcohol addiction in American society, starting in the early 20th century and leading up to the story’s first publication in 1982. Which elements of stigma do Carver’s characters contend with? Which stereotypes and misconceptions burden them? Cite specific textual examples.

The narrator singles out three other men at Frank Martin’s to describe in some amount of detail: J.P., Tiny, and the businessman who claims he does not know why he is there. Why do you think Carver chose these three characters to describe? Collectively, what do their experiences say about addiction?