Understanding Love: Perspectives from Raymond Carver's Story

Love: a small, four-lettered word that oozes with possibility. What is love? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines love as “a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person.” However, can love really be defined? In the short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” by Raymond Carver, the four main characters discuss just that: what is love? Terri, in particular, has a unique perspective on love. This is exemplified in the beginning of the story, when Terri is introduced: “Terri said the main she lived with before she lived with Mel loved her so much he tried to kill her,” (Carver 170). Terri’s dominant impression is that she is an easily influenced and manipulated character that is the most convinced and clear about
Time and time again, she asserts to Mel that Ed’s love for her was genuine: “‘It may sound crazy to you, but it’s true just the same…Sure, he may have acted crazy. Okay. But he loved me. In his own way, maybe, but he loved me.’” (Carver 171). While the others often express doubtful opinions on love, particularly Mel, Terri remains constant on her attitude towards the subject. She wholeheartedly believes that Ed loved her to the point of death, as explained in the following quote: “‘I was in the room with him when he died,’ Terri said. ‘He never came up out of it. But I sat with him. He didn’t have anyone else…It was love,’ Terri said. ‘Sure, it’s abnormal in most people’s eyes. But he was willing to die for it. He did die for it.” (Carver
Moving from an unhealthy and dangerous relationship to another unhealthy relationship has molded her into an easily influenced and manipulated person. Terri’s ability to be easily influenced and manipulated, as well as her confidence in Ed’s love are her dominant impressions. Terri holds tightly to her belief that Ed loved her, and is committed and clear about her stance. The definition of love, however, remains unclear. Love is defined uniquely to each person, and no one true viewpoint is ultimately unanimous. Like Terri and her companions, most of us are in the dark about the true meaning of love. “Love is an endless mystery, for it has nothing else to explain it.” (Rabindranath