The book, What We Talk about When We Talk about Love by Raymond Carver, has extensively analyzed various stories. The stories in this collection of short stories show love as a complicated emotion that can be both beautiful and destructive. Each of the stories provides different themes, which several aspects have reinforced.
The first story is Viewfinder by Raymond Carver. The theme of loss forms the key aspect of the story. The theme of loss in the story is shown at the beginning when the photographer appears with lost hands. The narrator asks the photographer,” What happened to your hands’’ (Carver, p.8). The quote by the photographer strengthens the theme of loss because it evaluates and posits a question related to lose. As the photographer moves throughout the house, the lack of hands gives the reader an idea of a loss. The loss also emerges further from the description by the narrator that he lost his family. He struggles to cope with the reality of the absence of her wife and is consumed with sadness. It is evident in the following quote from the story, where he reflects on his wife’s death: “It was too much for me. I couldn’t take it. I mean, I still can’t take it. I keep thinking if only I’d done something, if only I’d been there, if only….” The loss of the family affected the narrator greatly, especially in day-to-day life. In the initial depiction of the theme of loss, there is an increased overview that the loss of the hands represented a loss of many other things. However, the loss is further strengthened by aspects like the loss of family. Despite the narrator later accepting that both of them had losses, the lack of hands entirely changed the entire description. Another episode of loss in the story appears when a character loses sight due to a medical condition, ultimately representing the loss of independence and the ability to move around the globe. The sheer feeling of loss engulfs the air when he reflects on his past life and concludes he wasted his precious life. The theme of loss in “Viewfinder” is a vivid reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of change. The story explores the different forms of loss and how it can shape our perceptions of ourselves and the world around us.
The second story is Gazebo. In the story Gazebo, the theme of infidelity takes centre stage and the consequences of infidelity in marriages and relationships are highlighted. Holly stipulates, ” I know Duane is cheating on me with Juanita’’ (Carver, p.18). The quote reiterates that despite Holly being loyal to love, the aspects of cheating have greatly emerged. The story entails a married couple, Duane and Holly, who enjoy and spend the summer in a lakeside cabin. Infidelity is clear in the story, as Duane’s suspicions about Holly’s fidelity start to disturb him and, in the end, lead to the destruction of their relationship and marriage. Duane had consistently stalked Juanita, their barmaid. The closeness between Juanita and Duane led to cheating, and hence there was an increased suspicion between the two. The development of the theme is enhanced through the quote because it brings out the aspects of cheating and infidelity.
Infidelity is increasingly also shown in the conversation that Juanita later has with Holly and how it relates to the mechanisms shown. Infidelity results in emotional fallout between people in a relationship. For instance, Duane is badly hurt by Holly’s perceived betrayal, and the anger and resentment at the end break their marriage. It is evident in the following quote from the story, where Duane reflects on the end of their marriage: “I loved Holly. But I was tired of being hurt by her. I was tired of being made a fool of.” (Carver, p.18). Duane becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea that Holly is having an affair, and the suspicion creates a rift between them. From the story, Duane reflects on his suspicion, which is supported by the quote, “The thought of her doing something like that made me want to puke… I wanted to hit her or something. I felt sick, and I felt so goddamn mad.” The quote helps to explore the destructive nature of infidelity.
Also, we learn that infidelity greatly contributes to a lack of understanding and communication within a relationship. Holly’s behaviour is obscure and inconsistent in the story, and Duane’s inability to express his concerns and feelings to her only worsens the situation. The view is supported by the following quote, where Holly reflects on their relationship: “I don’t know what’s going on with us, Duane. We don’t talk anymore. We don’t seem to know how to talk to each other.” Finally, “Gazebo”, a short story by Raymond Carver, presents a meticulous and complex analysis of the theme of infidelity by shedding light on the destructive nature of suspicion and jealousy, the essence of communication and understanding each other in a relationship, and ultimately the emotional fallout occur due to infidelity.
The third story is Sacks. In the story Sacks, the theme of acceptance takes centre stage. “Sacks” properly explains the theme of acceptance during tough times. The short story points out the essence of accepting the issues beyond our reach, getting meaning out of our experiences, and getting support and love from individuals near us. The theme of acceptance emerges from the conversation between Palmer and his father. Palmer stipulated, ” I had not forgiven my father, but now I do”. The quote brings forth to the reader the background of the theme of acceptance. Initially, Palmer was not having a proper relationship with his father. However, he has developed an increasingly positive relationship with him after the given conversation. In the build-up to this particular quote, there was an increased distance between Palmer and the father created by his inability to reconcile with the divorce between the father and the mother. The conversation influenced acceptance that the divorce happened and that it was the best aspect that happened in his life all through. In the quote, Palmer accepts that there is a need to forgive and reconciles with him.
Moreover, taken from Carver’s What We Talk About When We Talk About Love collection, “Shacks” is written in the first person by a man named Les Palmer, and easily the reader notices that Carver explores the main theme of acceptance. Les has not met the father since the parents divorced three years ago. Based on the conversation between Les and the father at the airport lounge, one notices the father has not let go of his previous wife. To be in particular, the father has failed to accept the divorce that occurred long ago. However, it seems more interesting that the father can’t accept that his life has no direction at the moment, and it appears he is living his life in disagreement. Raymond Carver portrays the theme of acceptance when Palmer talks to the father. Palmer explains to the father that ‘Anybody can make a mistake.’ Hence, he supports the theme of acceptance because the reader understands that Les no longer has a grudge against his father. Les displays a lack of hatred towards his father.
The fourth story is, What We Talk about When We Talk about Love. In the story, the theme of love emerges all through. The theme of love covers a majority of the parts of the story. The short story involves two couples, Nick and Laura and Mel and Terri, as they relax and enjoy time together. The couples are sitting around a table drinking gin, contemplating and discussing individual experiences of love. Terry stipulates that” love has not been easy with me’’ (Carver, p.17). In a conversation with Mel, Terry is convinced that love is not easy. Love is entirely difficult to define and also explain. In the story, love is an unwavering feeling that occurs differently in different people. The provided narration all through has been enhanced by an increased need to define love further, as stipulated by Mel. The inability to find genuine love among his peers influenced Mel to have a weird description of love which strengthens the theme of love that is depicted.
Raymond Carver portrays love as something that wears several faces and can sometimes be confusing. Firstly, the love for Mel and Terri is love is displayed as destructive though passionate. Mel becomes extra controlling and possessive as the night progresses. On the other hand, the love between Nick and Laura is pragmatic and subdued. (Carver, p.17). Nick opens up and agrees there is a lot of compromise and difficulties that accompany long-term relationships. As the couples get further intoxicated, the conversation becomes clearer and more meaningful, and they become curious about love. Mel, a surgeon by profession, says that love could be a spiritual experience. At the same time, the wife, Terri, opens up on a previous traumatic encounter following a previous relationship.
Nick, the narrator, and the wife, Laura, also explain their experiences. Nevertheless, the group doesn’t agree on the true identity and meaning of love. Carver analyzes the idea of love as transformative, while characters question if love can alter an individual or whether it is simply a mobile emotion. It is evidenced by the story of Terri concerning her abusive previous husband, her escape from him and being assisted by Mel. Finally, Carver’s book has provided various critical themes. However, some themes like love have taken centre stage. As the book progresses, there is an increased change in the perception of love and also what it stands for. Love is revealed in the story as an increasingly volatile process that changes with the seasons. Also, “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love” gives a clear picture of love by portraying the complexities and beauty of love. The book motivates readers to ask about their outlook on love and be keen on how it manifests in life.
Work Cited
Carver Raymond. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. Vintage Digital 2016. INSERT-MISSING-DATABASE-NAME INSERT-MISSING-URL. Accessed 28 Feb. 2023.
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