Alcohol Addiction in Jerry and Molly and Sam by Raymond Carver

Al and His Alcohol Addiction in "Jerry and Molly and Sam” Al makes the worst decisions in the short story "Jerry and Molly and Sam” by Raymond Carver. Instead of getting prepared for the upcoming layoffs at work, he wastes his time drinking at a bar and screwing women on the side. In this story Al decides to become a better man by getting rid of the family dog. Why does Al make such dumb decisions? It is probably because he will not put that bottle of alcohol down to keep his head clear.

"Because drinkers are impaired by alcohol, their ability to make reasonable decisions about behavior, including conflict avoidance, is diminished.” (Harold D Holder 78) This could be the reason why Al often avoids the fights he gets into with his wife about his drinking.

He avoids his children and the dog. He is avoiding almost all the responsibilities in his life. Al thinks the alcohol at the bar will help ease his nerves.

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The stress that is building up only makes situations in his life worse. Night after night Al continues to waste his time at the bar. Al also thinks it is wise to continue an affair on the side. Jill - the other woman - is a lonely, depressed woman who works with Al. "He met her at the Town and Country, a bar not too far from his new place.” (Carver 16) Another bad choice from jerry, but what does he do?

Instead of breaking it off when times got rough he decides that the dog should go.

“He took out a cold half court of Luck from the fridge and popped the aluminum top. His life had become a maze, one lie overlaid upon another until he was not sure he could untangle them if he had to. 'The goddamn dog!' he said out loud." (Carver 17) His decision to abuse alcohol left him making poor decisions and left him thinking illogically most of the time. “Drunk people make stupid decisions,” said Harold D. Hoover in his report ALCOHOL AND VIOLENCE: A Complex Nexus of Drinking Environment and Drinking Pattern. (78) The dog didn't have to go. It was his way of thought that had to go. If Al stopped drinking he would have a stronger thinking process and maybe he would make smarter decisions.