What's Love Got to Do with It

What's Love Got To Do With It

In the short story "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," author Raymond Carver tells us a story of two couples having drinks at the dining table before heading out for dinner. The couples begin a conversation about love and before they know it they begin a heated debate of what real love is. Terri shows us that her idea of "real love" can hurt so much that it can destroy another person. Carver uses the character of Terri to show the struggles of loving someone who can be physically and mentally abusive.

Terri has been through at least two relationships and both have been abusive in some way. Her ex-husband was physically abusive to say the least and her husband now uses words to hurt Terri. The beginning of the story starts with the reader witnessing Terri defend an abusive relationship with her ex-husband before she married her husband now Mel McGinnis. Terri tells us that her ex-husband used to drag her around while telling her "I love you, I love, you bitch" (170). Still she believes he did love her and she still does even though he would beat her all over the house. Carver paints a picture of Terri as someone who is bone thin with a pretty face and long brown hair that can forgive and forget for just about anything. Terri's character is forgiving for the ones she loves including Mel, even when he begins his abusive drunkenness. Terri gives excuses to Mel's sarcastic and belittling comments towards her as she tells everyone how her ex really did love her.

Mel has been going on and on about Terri's ex and how he used to physically and mentally abuse Terri. Mel can't understand why Terri could still think her ex-husband loved her. As the characters continue talking about love Mel keeps drinking and tells Terri, "Just shut up for once in your life" (178). Terri shuts up and sits there looking anxious while Mel continues to talk. The irony that Mel has been talking for most of the conversation goes to show how little he cares about what Terri feels or says. Mel is a very educated man who deals with hurt people all the time. Still he does not realize that he is hurting Terri. Although Mel does not beat Terri that we know of you almost feel like Terri had more love for her ex-husband. "Mel always has love on his mind," Terri sarcastically tells the others. On the other hand while Terri and Mel bicker at each other through most of the story Nick the narrator of the story and his wife Laura are affectionate and loving towards each other throughout