Important memories stick with a person for the rest of his or her life whether they are good or bad. Things also change over time and soon enough the memories are not reality anymore; they have just become a life lesson. The short story “Everything Stuck to Him” by Raymond Carter exhibits many themes: identity, commitment, responsibility, and making choices. It takes place in late November during a cold spell. The father is telling his daughter a story about a teenage couple. The author’s choices of symbolism, frame story, and characterization greatly impact the meaning of the story. Symbolism immensely impacts the meaning of the story. The use of metaphors and symbolism forces the reader to think critically about the meaning of the story. One example of symbolism in …show more content…
The cold weather may represent the mood or the tension between the couple in the inner story. Another example of symbolism is the dentist letterhead. The dentist finds out that the couple was using his letterhead for their personal correspondence. Carter may have intended for the reader to infer that the couple is using the letterhead because they do not know who they are yet. It is like they are using another identity until they find their own. Another use of symbolism that the author uses is the waffles with syrup that stuck to the man. The waffles that are stuck to him symbolize all of his memories and how they stuck with him and affected his life. The mess that the food made may symbolize how the man made a mess of his relationship with the girl in the story. One more use of symbolism that Carter uses is when the girl tells the man that he needs to choose between her and going out with his