“Say Yes” is a short story written by Tobias Wolff in 1985. This story is about a husband and wife discussing the issues of interracial marriage. While she feels that race should not be a factor when marrying someone, he disagrees, saying, “how can you understand someone who comes from a completely different background?” The couple's discussion confronts the theories on identity, race, and love.
Character
The characters of this story are Ann and her husband, who remains unnamed. Ann is upset with her husband for his views on interracial marriage. They argue while carelessly doing the dishes. When she becomes upset by his admittance that he would not marry her if she were black, she responds by becoming indifferent, flipping slowly through a magazine. The husband must act similarly. The husband views himself as considerate, for he often helps around the house, but he isn't too concerned if his opinions hurt his wife or she thinks they're rather stupid. He expects the matter to be dropped when he comes to her aid, after she's cut her thumb. He is seen as a less than genuine person, doing things out of effect rather than sincere desire. Closer to the end of the story, he begins to feel overwhelmed with thoughts of love for his wife, and when he returns from taking out the garbage, he tells her he would marry her no matter what. He waits for a response but is given none. And he waits alone in bed for her, while it seems to him she has become a stranger.