In the first paragraph of Tobias Wolff's work Bullet in the Brain the main character, Anders, is introduced as an individual who isn’t portrayed as the nicest of people. This negative portrayal of Anders sets up the story's plot and informs readers of the critical and irritable personality that Wolff intended Anders to have. The word choice and actions Wolff uses for Anders depict the undesirable character Wolff wanted him to be, and it is these traits that ultimately caused tragedy later in his life and allows for the author’s project to shine through. One useful method of determining the project of the author is to focus on the keywords and key concepts the author writes into the story. One major idea in Bullet in the Brain is the final memories of Anders; with Wolff writing the story having such a strong emphasis on the memories Anders did and did not remember in his last seconds we can be sure that a close analyzation of this concept will help to reveal Wolff’s project.  

While reading Bullet in the Brain it is clear that Wolff wrote the story with an emphasis on how Anders is judgmental of others and has a hot headed nature. In fact, within just the first paragraph Wolff writes Anders to be someone who "was never in the best of tempers" (Wolff 200) and as "a book critic know for the weary, elegant savagery with which he dispatched almost everything he reviewed" (Wolff 200). These traits that are introduced so quickly play a key part in the story line. The aim of the author was to show how possessing and acting upon these unfavorable traits would cause tragedy in one’s life. Wolff uses Anders as an example of an irritable individual who unapologetically acted upon his natural tendencies and paid for it in the end with his life. Anders "burst out laughing" (Wolff 203) after being confronted by the robber and went on to criticize the robber’s choice of words. It was this final encounter that led to Anders getting shot. Using such a dramatic scene Wolff hammered in the project he was trying to get across to readers. 

The project of Wolff's story was to show how being a critical, ignorant person leads to misfortune is valuable as it stresses the importance of positive interactions, acknowledging that every person is different, and that being understanding rather than judgmental is a quality trait. Anders attitude towards the decision of others was always negative. For example, when Wolff wrote "he got stuck behind two women whose loud, stupid conversation put him in a murderous temper" (Wolff 200) and also during the multiple times he judged the robber’s choice of words. Wolff's use of these piece of the story helps shape the fact that his project can be used as a life lesson. However, while the story does have strong meaning any reader must consider that it is a fictional story. Even though it is important to be understanding of others, in real life a comment about someone's decisions would most likely not result in death.  

After the death of Anders there is a transition from showing how his actions led him to that fate to what he remembered in his moments before death. One key concept of Bullet in the Brain is Anders final memories. After the bullet began its journey through Anders head his mind had just enough time to recreate a moment from his childhood, a neighborhood pickup baseball game where a friend had brought their cousin who wanted to play shortstop. During his last moments alive rather than remembering a more significant moment in his life such as his first love, his ex-wife, the actions of his daughter, or watching a suicide happen in front of him he remembers a simple moment from his childhood. The sole words Anders remembers is the boy saying "'Shortstop, Short's the best position they is" (Wolff 205). This quote really stands out because rather than feeling a need to correct the boy on his grammar as Anders usually would he is "strangely roused" (Wolff 206) by the final two words A moment when he felt intrigued by one of his greatest pet peeves. The concept of what Anders did and did not remember is a crucial piece of this story as it symbolizes Anders regret of being such a critical individual and how he wishes he had lived the entirety of his life in the same nature he did on the baseball diamond that day.  

The first memory that Wolff states Anders didn't remember is his first love, Sherry. Wolff continues on to discuss why Anders was initially so in love with Sherry which was "her unembarrassed carnality, and especially the cordial way she had with his unit" (Wolff 204). People always say your first love sticks to you like no one else could and therefore many people’s first love may be a defining factor in their life. Based on this it would not be surprising for someone who had a great first love to remember the ins and out of that relationship in their final moments. This holds significance as Wolff mentions Sherry's memory as one that did not come to Anders head. During the description of Anders first lover it must also be noted that the reason he fell so madly in love with Sherry was probably also what began to irritate him about her. This shows that even a significant factor in his life could not beat out the baseball memory he did remember, this also provided yet another example of Anders critical nature. 

Another important aspect Anders didn't remember as he was dying was his family. Wolff begins discussing family as he writes "Anders didn't remember his wife, whom he had also loved before she exhausted him with her predictability" (Wolff 204). Not only does this quote state the fact that Anders didn't remember his wife in his final moments but also provides yet another example of Anders unfavorable personality traits, the fact that Anders got tired of his wife simply because of her predictable actions. Another family memory forgotten in Anders final moments was that of his daughter and a time where he listened to her "lecture her bear about naughtiness" (Wolff 204). It’s often heard that parents say how the small memories of their children or being with family is what they hold most dearly. Just like the memory of a first love it would make sense for one to recall a time spent with family as well. The family oriented memories are important to the understanding of the authors meaning that family is supposed to be the most important thing in anyone's life yet. The fact that a simple phrase during a pickup baseball game was remembered over family shows the regret Anders held and the boredom with his wife provides another example of Anders personality.  

Anders also has memories that are dark and somewhat traumatic. Wolff writes about Anders memories of "his dying mother saying of his father, 'I should have stabbed him in his sleep'" (Wolff 204), "seeing a women leap to her death" (Wolff 204), and "deliberately crashing his father's car into a tree" (Wolff 205). These ominous memories could also just as easily be remembered by any individual at the time of death as the happier memories. These disturbing memories also play a major role in helping Wolff convey his purpose. These specific incidents most likely played a major role in making Anders the person he was. Wolff's edition of the more sinister events is his way of letting the reader know why Anders acts the way he does. 

The time on the baseball diamond contained no real defining moments or times that made a significant impact on his life so why would Wolff make this Anders last memory? Based on the lesson Wolff intended to teach, or in other words the project of the story, the only logical explanation to this question is that he wanted to emphasize the regret Anders felt towards the way he lived his life. The entirety of the book, from Anders thoughts and actions in real time to the memories he had, stressed Anders possession of such heavy judgmental features. Yet his final memory was the sole time readers saw him not angry or annoyed by the actions of others. Wolff set up the story and Anders character in a light that caused readers to view him a certain way; however, the moment on the baseball diamond being the only time his character was not written in that light helps to emphasize the point he is trying to make. Wolff's use of the baseball diamond memory was intended to show readers that constant outwards negativity will not only not bode well for an individual but it will also lead to a life filled with regret.  
