Popular Mechanics

Raymond Carver's Popular Mechanics initially appears to be a typical fight between a husband and wife. Then by the end, I felt like my mind was torn apart along with the baby. The external conflict between the man and his wife is most likely due to a problem in their marriage. Then things turn towards the child. I think this story is a sick and twisted way of saying that fights between parents tears apart the children, sometimes literally. The final sentence of the short story reads, "In this manner, the issue was decided." This line refers to  how the child was ripped apart by the parents. Of course, the issue was over who gets the child. I guess in this case both of them get a part of the child! The title of Popular Mechanics demonstrates the theme that fights like these occur rather often, well except for children being ripped in half. Thinking about the title, helps readers know that children are devastated by the fights that occur between their parents.