Popular Mechanics

Popular Mechanics by Carver is a very intriguing short story because of the content that is more of a modern day. The conclusion of this story includes word that require an understanding in order to fully comprehend what is happening to the characters through their actions. The "issue" that is being decided is who receives their child upon divorce. This builds through the smaller actions of the husband packing his things with care, the arguing and yelling between the two, and the eventual fighting over who gets to take care of the child. This major issue for the story is decided by the fight. This fight is more than just a verbal attack, but actually becomes physical. The mother has the child in her arms to start the fight, but in the end they each take a part of the child to be their own. The problem is that the individuals feel that they each should take care of this child that they made together, and the idea of one of the other taking care and ownership makes them desire the child more. So, when the physicality begins, the child takes the real damage. They each grab a hold of the child and try to keep it as their own. This ends with the destruction of the child for good. "In this manner, the issue was decided," tells the reader that the child has been ripped in half and that they are done quarreling for good.