What We Talk About Love By Raymond Carver

Love is usually depicted as an intense feeling of deep affection which can be directed towards anything. Additionally, love is often depicted as a happy ending to a story; however, it is rarely seen as a sad ending to a story. In What We Talk About When We Talk About Love, Raymond Carver portrays the theme that the feeling of love is unstable and weak, which is why love is not an everlasting experience. The couples in “Gazebo,” “Sacks,” and “What We Talk About When We Talk Love,” separate from one another due to the interference of an outside individual; thus, representing how weak the bond of love is.
“Gazebo,” is a story which revolves around two individuals: Duane and Holly. Duane and Holly’s relationship is characterized as unstable and …show more content…
However most of the story is Mel and Terri are discussing what they consider love to be. Mel and Terri’s relationship can be characterized as a new and fresh; since both Mel and Terri were in love and married someone else before marrying each other. Terri was married to Ed, their relationship is characterized was violent and abusive. Ed would express his love by beating Terri up and dragging her around the living room saying “I love you, I love you. you bitch” (Carver 138). As a result Terri broke off the relationship with Ed, since she felt Ed would end up killing her out of love.On the other hand Mel, stated how he considered to have “loved” his first wife, but then realized what love was after meeting Terri (Carver 144). Both Terri and Mel’s relationship with their ex husband, ex wife illustrate how love is not an everlasting experience; since both of their first loves did not last. Thus, exemplifying how the bond of love is weak which is why it is not …show more content…
Terri’s perception of love is extraordinary; since she considered Ed’s abusive behavior as love. For instance, she argues with Mel stating “It may sound crazy to you...But he loved me. In his own way maybe, but he loved me” (Carver 138). This identifies Terri’s perception of love, since she statement does not change even after falling in love with Mel. On the other hand, Mel perception of love can be implied as the opposite of what Terri believes, since he states “My God, don’t be silly. That’s not love, and you know it… I don 't know what you’d call it, but I sure know you wouldn’t call it love” (Carver 138). This depicts Mel’s perception of love, and how it contradicts