Goodness

The author explores the rarity and magnetism of human goodness via the first person narrator's intimate depiction of Salvatore's life and character. At the start of the short story, the narrator says, "I wonder if I can do it" (1). They then begin Salvatore's tale without explaining to the reader what it is they are attempting to accomplish. Because of the narrator's careful rendering of Salvatore, the reader forgets the story's first line, and becomes immediately immersed in the details of Salvatore's world, identity, and circumstances. The reader also trusts the narrator's descriptions of him, because they say they met Salvatore "when he was a boy of fifteen" (1). Though they do not detail any interactions between themself and the young boy, their descriptions of Salvatore center around his demeanor, spirit, and aura. He not only has "a pleasant face," but "a laughing mouth and care-free eyes" (1). The...