Analyse af Tobias Wolffs novelle 'Say Yes'

An Analysis of the short story “Say Yes” by Tobias Wolff

This essay Analyses of the short story “Say Yes” by Tobias Wolff. The story is about a female called Ann which discusses with her husband, would they be married if Ann was black. The husband is quite racist, and said to Ann “no I wouldn’t have married you if you were black”. Then Ann gets obsessed and go to bed.

Ann is about 50 years old, as she says “In another thirty years or so they would both be dead.” (ll. 112-113). She seems kind and nice, but she is also obstinate. Ann is focussed on freedom and means that your race doesn’t matter. Ann can’t see what’s wrong with a white person marrying a black person. (ll. 22-23).

Ann husband is very gentle and treats Ann very well, for example when Ann cuts her hand, he quickly ran upstairs to get a first aid kit. Then after helping Ann he offered to clean up the rest of the kitchen so Ann can rest. (ll. 50-62). Ann’s husband is as well pretty racist, which they have a huge argument whether a white person could marry a white person. (ll. 9-11)