Abstract: “Say Yes”, a short story by contem paryary American writer Tobias Wolff, has drawn limited critical attention due to its seemingly simple plot, clear-cut characters and manifest themes. Most of the existing interpretations focus upon the race-centered conflict between the couple and thus fail to excavate the rich implications in this story that is an exemplary piece of contemporary minimalist art. However, if attention is paid to the “covert progression” behind the plot, another conflict throughout the story is likely to be found: the conflict between sense and sensibility, which is more likely the root of the marital crisis concerned. The protagonist's departure from sense and embrace of sensibility in the covert progression are Wolff the short-story master's way to endow his characters with epiphanies, which also reflect Wolff the Catholic's thought on balancing the allocation of power in secular marriages as well as his consistent concern for the moral choices of human beings.

Key words: Tobias Wolff, “Say Yes”, plot development, covert progression