The Analysis of Gazebo by Raymond Carver

This story uses some symbolisms, there are the gazebo, the whiskey, and the old man. First I want to discuss concerning to the gazebo. This gazebo pretty has deep meaning for Holly since the 'gazebo' uses as a title for this story. The condition of the gazebo in this story was quite worn out such as had a little peaked roof and the paint were gone and there were these weeds growing up over the steps. Although this gazebo has an ugly appearance, this gazebo has a magnificent side which is full of happiness. Holly has been tired to manage the motel due to her husband has been disappointed her. She did not have any wealthy and having much money; she just want to get happiness from her marriage. She just want to live peacefully with her husband. The gazebo which is pictured as worn out represents the condition of Holly's marriage. Basically, gazebo is a small building that is use for refreshing in the garden. By looking at the function of the gazebo, it is a place for spent the time with full of joy. However, the condition of the gazebo which no longer in a good condition, it indicates that the harmony of Holly's marriage was broken. It proves that from the story we knew that Holly did not happy with her marriage, her husband has disappointed her.

Furthermore, we talk about the old man. She also says that "Those old people must be dead now” . This statement has relation with her love story. When they visited the old couple’s house, they were still in a warm and beautiful relationship. However, nowadays, if they want to visit the old couple’s house anymore, they might not be able to meet them. Presumably, they must be dead which has the same as her love that also dead due to his affairs relationship. We think that her opinion about the dead of the old couple also the same as the dead of her love which we can call as an allegory. In literal meaning, we just can conclude that the old couple’s dead, but actually it has a meaning that her love also dead because of Duane. Why she must use the allegory from the old couple’s dead? We think that, may be because they meet them when they are still in a good relationship. And also, perhaps, she also insinuates about her relationship to Duane. Though they are an old couple, they have a beautiful and sweet relationship and even till they are old. In contrast to Holly's marriage is pretty reverse which still in a quite young relationship, however; her love was betrayed by her own husband. She was quite envy with the old couple relationship which couldn't be kept till they are old. Holly hopes that their marriage will be like them. They will through the day full of happiness until they are getting old.

            Not only that, why does she also say about the farm place and “men used to come around and play music out there on a Sunday, and the people would sit and listen”? We think that, Maybe, it is because of she is a kind of a romantic and melancholic girl. She is pretty stuck with her job and position in the big city. Moreover, she wants to live in a peaceful place. Farm represents peacefulness, and the motel has a bad memory for her feeling which is, because of the motel and hiring Mexican maid, her husband has betrayed her and even making love with Mexican maid in the room number 11. You can imagine that you have been betrayed by your sweetheart, it is pretty hard, even for Holly, her husband made love with his mistress. It is really deep painful for her, and it is normal if she cannot forgive him because the thing that her husband done is really disgusting and loathsome. Hence, she pretty misses with the romantic moment, peaceful, honest situation especially in her deepest heart.

            Moreover, about the Duane’s love, we think that his love is not quite deep for Holly and not as deep as Holly’s love. Because when he said everything about his feeling was always use simple past tense, which means just happen once time in the past and does not happen until now. It is really hurt if I were a Holly because I love my husband so much, and eventually, he loves me not as deep as me and he is being able to betray me with the other girl (even till making love). It is really hurt and can cut my heart into some pieces, and Holly also said “you’d taken an axe to it” which means it is really hurt for her feeling. I think, if there is a boy really loves her girlfriend, he never has a mind to betray her (even to make love with other girl). If he is truly faithful to his girlfriend, automatically he will do everything to make her happy. He will fell much of guilty if he makes her crying. I think he is a jerk boy who just follows his lust without any sagacity consideration about her wife’s feeling. If he is truly loves her, certainty, he can restrain his lust, his desire to make love with other girl. It is pretty disgusting for the word “AFFAIR”. Because he is able to make love with his maid, so we cannot believe that he truly loves Holly even it is just “guilty”. He is type of a inconsistent man to keep her love.