Critique de la Vie Quotidienne by Donald Barthelme
"Critique de la Vie Quotidienne" by Donald Barthelme explores the unraveling of a young urban couple's marriage through the lens of daily life and domestic conflicts. The story is narrated by a husband who struggles with alcoholism, reflecting on a series of arguments with his wife, Wanda, which often escalate in intensity. Their disputes encompass a range of mundane issues, such as parenting challenges, financial arguments, and personal abandonment, illustrating the complexities of their relationship. The narrator’s interactions with their child reveal a deep sense of irritation and frustration, showcasing the emotional strain within the family dynamic.
As the narrative progresses, tensions culminate in a dramatic confrontation when Wanda visits the narrator, leading to a moment of violence that symbolically captures the couple's fractured connection. The story concludes with Wanda engaging in academic pursuits in France, while the narrator finds solace in his routine, highlighting the contrasting paths their lives have taken. Overall, Barthelme's work serves as a poignant commentary on the monotony and emotional turmoil often present in everyday life and relationships.
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Critique de la Vie Quotidienne by Donald Barthelme
First published: 1972
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: Probably the 1970s
Locale: New York City
Principal Characters:
The narrator , who is separated from his wifeWanda , his wifeThe child , their son
The Story
This "critique of daily life" records the disintegration of the marriage of a young urban couple. The narrator, given to excessive drinking, retrospectively sketches a series of domestic clashes that highlight the nature of the conflicts between him and his wife, Wanda, and their unnamed child.
The narrator and his wife quarrel, sometimes violently and finally almost lethally, about various domestic matters, among them their child's behavior, a game of chess, the narrator's stinginess, and his abandonment of her. The father's relationship with the child is marked by his irritation with the child's requests, by his exasperation with the child's behavior, and by his fury at the child's inferences about his character.
In the final section, a separation has taken place, and the wife is visiting the narrator's bachelor quarters. A round of friendly toasts to each other quickly degenerates into mutual recriminations, and Wanda pulls a large pistol from her bosom and fires at her husband. She misses and instead shatters the bottle of liquor on the mantel. The concluding scene shows the wife in Nanterre, France, studying Marxist sociology while the husband is at home, content with his favorite brand of scotch: "And I, I have my J&B. The J&B company keeps manufacturing it, case after case, year in and year out, and there is, I am told, no immediate danger of a dearth."