Richard Brautigan's short fiction stories incorporate protagonists who are recognizable fictionalized versions of the author himself. He writes to mine his own struggles from the past and the difficulties of discovering himself in the present. Through the characters of The Weather in San Francisco and Caporal, the depiction of his optimistic outlook on life as a consequence of the rigors of daily life, and the use of symbols, Brautigan presents his personal story through words on paper. The characters in Brautigan's short stories The Weather in San Francisco and Caporal exemplify similar interpretations of the author and his life stories. As an author, Brautigan soon became "self-centered, deeply depressed, racked by debt, and abrasive even to those who cared about him" (Hackenberry 3). These distressing emotions made him feel hopeless in life and in himself. It was as if he were in the middle of a never-ending race, with no one cheering him on and the finish line nowhere in sight. As time passed, he "[became] increasingly withdrawn and depressed during his declining career" (Contemporary Authors Online 6). Ultimately, Brautigan let his sorrows consume him to the point of “apparently committing suicide” (Contemporary Authors Online 6). Like Brautigan, the characters in his stories also express unhappiness in life. The butcher in The Weather in San Francisco had "a very unpleasant experience" after reluctantly having to cut up a pound of liver to sell to the old woman (The Weather in San Francisco 120). He hoped to convince the old woman to buy the hamburger because he had to sell it before it spoiled, but she wouldn't be convinced. The Corporal's boy had to suffer for a whole week going "to the door... in the middle of the paper... surrounded him." The old woman also symbolizes weakness. Many times he “got tired and had to stop and rest” (The Weather in San Francisco 120). Just like Brautigan, it was hard for her to keep smiling on the outside every day when it was in chaos on the inside. This could explain why Brautigan took his own life without anyone knowing. He never made it visible to the world, he just kept the feelings inside himself. As a temporary escape, Brautigan writes to express his life through characters, incorporating his optimistic attitude as the moral behind each story. Explain that although every day may seem cloudy, you have to believe that the sun will appear at any moment. He also explained that, instead of sulking about the failure; Accept defeat with pride instead of making it your weakness. The dreams of a better world are all in our hands.