What We Talk about When We Talk about Love
The definition of love varies from individual to individual and may be affected by factors such as culture and religion. Generally, defining love for someone is a difficult task that has out-witted even the most educated. In “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love,” Carver presents the real experience of defining love and shows the accompanying challenges. The setting of the story is in an apartment where two couples, Mel and Terri, and Nick and Laura, have decided to talk about the issue of defining love. The couples do not leave the kitchen table in the apartment and are polishing bottles of gin as they hold the discussion. Nick narrates the story while it revolves around Mel, who does the talking as he attempts to define what love is and the challenges associated with defining love. Carver’s story is narrated from one point from start to the end. The four characters do not move out of the kitchen and also do not run out of ideas to discuss. Generally, the theme of love is the dominant theme, and any other themes such as controversy in love and complication are developed from the central theme. Raymond Carver wisely selects the topic of love and comes up with couples who are already in love to discuss love.
The title “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” gives the first impression of love, and any reader would expect a romantic tone in the novel. However, Carver decides to use a tone that is least expected by his audience. According to Carver, life should be based on reality, and he, therefore, decides to see the world as it is and not as it should be. Carver says, “Life is a serious business, isn’t it? It [is] grave, life is, tempered with humor,” introducing the reader to a serious tone for the story. The choice of the setting is also associated with the somber and serious tone that Carver uses in the story. For example, a scene that would be expected to be covered in romance when Mel kisses Terri is done in a serious tone, and the two do not get carried by the feeling of love. The loving moment is changed into a grave and somber mood by the description given, thus leaving a question on the choice of tone by Carver. Generally, the tone in “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” is quite ironical, and readers do not get a taste of the romantic tone that the topic introduces to them. Moreover, the writing style employed in “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” gives the reader more freedom on the interpretation to make.
As the story begins, the reader is introduced to a narrator Nick and appears as though Nick will interpret for the reader. However, as the story progresses, the reader realizes that the story is more of an open dialogue that a narrative. Nick remains silent on most of the story and lets the reader make their interpretation from the arguments made by all the participants in the dialogue. For example, the tonal variations in the description by Mel gives the reader a chance to know the character of Mel. Mel appears snarky and fond of the way he talks to his wife. The gin has not compromised the character because Mel still has control over his words. The tone immediately changes when Mel gets overwhelmed by the gin. Mel starts talking ill concerning his ex-lover: “I’m praying she’ll get herself stung to death by a swarm of fucking bees,” Carver (5). Generally, Carver gives the reader a chance for the reader to assess the characters and their experience with love.
The title of Carver’s work, “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love,” surprises the reader in the middle of the dialogue. One would expect to meet characters talking about love or desperation to fall in love. Instead, the reader meets characters talking about domestic abuse, accidents, and even disappointments. Most of the characters are talking about their previous experience in abusive love. Mel counters the argument that love can coexist with abuse and instead gives a better description of love. The title is obtained from the conversation when Mel says, “[the experience] ought to make us feel ashamed when we talk like we know what we’re talking about when we talk about love,” Carver (66). Generally, Carver’s work leads the reader into having different definitions of love depending on the situation at hand.
In sum, Raymond Carver wisely selects the topic of love and comes up with couples who are already in love to discuss love. The title “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” gives the first impression of love, and any reader would expect a romantic tone in the novel. However, the reader meets characters talking about domestic abuse, accidents, and even disappointments.
Works Cited
Carver, Raymond. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (Mandarin Edition). Simon and Schuster, 2014.