The Theme Of When We Talk About Love By Raymond Carver

In What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver we are shown a range of different themes, one being young love vs. old love. In these short stories, Carver illustrates his inner beliefs and possibly his own experiences of young and old love. Young love is immature, selfish and unable to communicate in a way that results in the couple separating while old love is unselfish, supportive and committed to someone who they see as the center of their universe and nothing less. In “Gazebo”, we are introduced to a young couple named Holly and Duane. They help run a motel that eventually falls apart due to Duane’s infidelity. Duane is a handyman who appears to be very strong, but on the inside, he is as weak as a twig, with no respect to the one he married. “I [Duane] get down on my …show more content…
Not a lot of actions are shown that showcase their love, but the actions that are shown prove the love the old couple shares. Edith has been given the burden of an illness and James, being the typical old grumpy man, still feels love for his wife, and tries to protect her in ways he is capable of. “He [James] went to the bedroom door and listened for a time. He felt unworthy to be listening, to be standing. Why not someone else? Why not those people tonight? Why not all those people who sail through life free as birds? Why not them instead of Edith?” (83). James feels unworthy because as much as he tries, he cannot protect her from her illness. The only thing he knows he can do is comfort her in times of need, “Edith, dearest Edith” (82), James said as …” He touched her hand” (80). James loves Edith and he’s willing to stick around and take these obstacles head on with her. He relates himself to a picture of a boat turned over, with a man standing on the keel waving because he himself feels like his life is overturned and he’s waving to get attention so he can stay afloat for Edith, and to be strong for