Paring Knife Analysis

     In Oppenheimer’s short story The Paring Knife , he relates a paring knife to the two character’s relationship. The knife is previously lost under the refrigerator during an argument. However, when he finds the knife he recalls the argument and suddenly puts the knife back under the refrigerator. In this short story the tone would be untroubled, aggressive, and damaged. The symbolism shows that their unknown relationship had complications and that they are truly not solved. Lastly, the diction the narrator uses is short and simple. They want to show the reader rather than telling what happened. Their unsolved conflict shows that their argument was more than simple and that some things are better left unsaid.

     First, there are multiple tones that could contribute to this short story, one being untroubled. When the narrator says “After I told her she put the knife on the table and then went into the next room and continued to clean.” she brushes it off as unforgotten. However, he didn’t want to ask her if she remembered the argument but, he wanted to make a point that the knife was existent. She was calm about the situation giving you a sense that she isn’t going to let that knife define her. She sits the knife on the table possibility stating that now that the past is uncovered there’s no reason to hide behind their emotions between each other. The tone also includes aggressive. He states, “We both became extremely angry” and “I said some very hurtful things to the woman I love.” Saying “they both” but then only describing his actions. However, the fact that he admits saying hurtful things he still feels sympathetic for himself. He also calls her the woman I love multiple times to make him feel a connection with her that doesn’t exist anymore. Lastly, there is a damaged tone. He says, “nothing much was broken, but the floor was very messy.” This goes on to the describe that even though there wasn’t permanent damage their ground of their relationship was rough. Even though they had difficulties to fix they didn’t clean up until the next morning accidently leaving the knife to forever remember the damage that has already been done. She overlooked the knife in the past but the present she puts it back meaning that she’s not ready to accept to erasing the thoughts out of her mind.