Cynicism

The narrative presents one of Anders’ main character traits—as well as one of his main sources of personal pain—as his consistent bitterness and cynicism. These traits affect his personal experiences in such a way as to prevent all possibilities of joy or personal fulfillment. For example, the story opens thusly: “Anders couldn't get to the bank until just before it closed, so of course the line was endless and he got stuck behind two women whose loud, stupid conversations put him in a murderous temper. He was never in the best of tempers anyway” (263). This line establishes Anders’ penchant for personal anger and demonstrates the application of that anger to everyday tasks. Anders arrives at the bank with a sour attitude, and he appears to focus only on negative aspects of his experience. Thus, the narrative immediately implies that Anders’ everyday experiences are characterized...