What We Talk About When We Talk About Love analysis explores the theme and symbolism of love in the short story collection by Raymond Carver. The essay contains the book’s summary and character analysis. Introduction Raymond Carver is the writer who uses minimalism in his writing style to set up the tone of the story from the very beginning. “ What We Talk About When We Talk About Love ” by Carver explores the subject of love. Love is a word that one hears in everyday life. Talking about love, people mean different things. People talk about loving their parents, cars, pets, movies, books, ice cream, children, spouses, and so forth. However, love is different in each instance, and the concept of love puzzles many people. In contemporary pop culture, the word love has been overused, and it is not easy to tell what the word actually means. Love means different things to different people. The essay shall examine major themes and main characters of the story and their attitude to love and relationships. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: Summary What We Talk About When We Talk About Love is a collection of 17 short stories written by Raymond Carver, a famous American writer. Published in 1981, the book received immediate critical acclaim and gained the nickname of “minimalist masterpiece”. The collection is united by the theme of love that is considered under various angles in each of the stories. One of the most touching and thought-provoking stories bears the same title as the entire collection. It focuses on two couples that gather around a table drinking gin and talking about love. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love: Theme Physical love Nick and Laura are a couple who got married recently. They met in the course of their professional duties and have been married for eighteen months. The kind of love they exhibit is physical. It is the kind newly married couples express to each other, and it seems that this is a remarkable period in their love life. They behave very affectionately towards each other “I touched the back of Laura’s hand. She gave me a quick smile. I picked up Laura’s hand. It was warm, the nails polished, perfectly manicured. I encircled the broad wrist with my fingers, and I held her” (Carver 390). In return, Laura bumps her husband’s knee with hers to urge him to speak. On the contrary, they seem to have a hollow relationship, which Mel describes as virtual perfection. For instance, Nick, who is the narrator of the story, says that they enjoy each other’s company, and Laura is a woman with which it is easy to be close. The couple is friends and lovers, and this would be an ideal situation for any couple. However, there is a sad ring to it because everything that comes easy goes easy. The physical attraction and love talks are bound to end at some point in their relationship, then what? Spiritual love The main emphasis in “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” analysis essay is on the old couple. The old couple, as Mel describes, has a kind of spiritual love. The old man is very disappointed because he is unable to see his wife due to the bandages on his face. The couple contrasts the couples in the kitchen who do not seem to have such kind of love that goes way beyond the physical. The type of love the old couple has looks like it will l