Tobias Wolff’s “Bullet in the Brain” is an exquisitely crafted short story that delves into themes of cynicism, memory, and the ephemeral nature of life. The protagonist, Anders, is a disillusioned literary critic whose relentless sarcasm and intellectual arrogance have stripped him of any capacity for joy. When he finds himself caught in a bank robbery, his habitual mockery overrides self-preservation, provoking one of the gunmen to execute him. However, rather than dwelling on his physical demise, Wolff shifts the narrative focus to Anders’ final moments of consciousness. In these fleeting seconds, he does not recall the literary masterpieces he has critiqued but instead a singular, seemingly inconsequential childhood memory of a boy exuberantly declaring, “They is, they is, they is.” This unexpected recollection starkly contrasts with the cynicism that has defined his adult life, revealing the magnitude of what he has truly lost.
Wolff employs irony as the story’s central literary device, illustrating how a man whose career was built on the ruthless dissection of language finds his ultimate solace in a grammatically incorrect phrase. The use of stream of consciousness immerses the reader in the erratic, fragmented thoughts of Anders as the bullet traverses his brain, lending a surreal, almost lyrical quality to the final moments of his existence. Additionally, juxtaposition between his embittered present and his untarnished past amplifies the tragedy of his transformation. The vivid imagery embedded in his last memory the golden sunlight, the distant laughter, the raw purity of childhood enhances its poignancy, underscoring the innocence and unfiltered wonder he unknowingly relinquished.
I found Bullet in the Brain to be an intellectually and emotionally profound narrative. Wolff’s portrayal of Anders serves as a cautionary meditation on the corrosive effects of unrelenting cynicism, demonstrating how an incessantly critical perspective can eviscerate one’s ability to appreciate the beauty in life. The true devastation of the story lies in the fact that Anders rediscovers his lost joy only in death when it is irrevocably beyond his grasp.
I unequivocally recommend this story to students, particularly those with an affinity for literature and psychology. Wolff’s masterful prose, coupled with his sophisticated narrative structure, renders “Bullet in the Brain” an unforgettable exploration of memory, regret, and the fleeting moments that define us. Despite its brevity, the story delivers a staggering emotional and intellectual impact, lingering in the reader’s mind long after its conclusion.
Get the story! “Bullet in the Brain” is included in Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories by Tobias Wolff, which you can check out at BMCC’s Library, the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, or the Queens Public Library.
About the author Luis Mercedes is Dominican; loves to game, build Legos, go to the gym and on walks, and watch sports on a daily basis; and is a college student who also works on the side.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
