Lack of Imagery
The story actually displays a notable lack of imagery throughout. In version A, for example, the narrator describes Mary and John's life together in a purportedly "happy ending." However, she uses only simple, declarative sentences that report rather than dramatize the events of their lives. As the story continues, the narration becomes slightly more vivid when elements of drama and hardship are introduced – Mary and John's relationship in version B, for example, is peppered with small details about Mary's lipstick and the way John gets undressed. However, in general, the story is markedly devoid of imagery. This is a deliberate choice, as the narrator at the end of the story announces that plots are "just one thing after another" (F). The "how" and "why," the story suggests, are where elements like imagery are ultimately generated.
