Introduction
This paper gives a critical analysis of the issues of social concern discussed by Raymond Carver in his articles: What We Talk About When We Talk about Love; Cathedral and Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? These are his works which he wrote at different times. What We Talk About When We Talk about Love is a collection of short stories written by Raymond Carver. The 176 page fiction which was published in 1981 consists of short stories including What We Talk About When We Talk About Love; The Bath; Everything Stuck to Him; Tell Me We Are Going; Why Don’t You Dance and Popular Mechanics. They discuss about the life experiences they have been gong through in their marriages. The following are some of the major social issues discussed by Raymond in his writings:
Societal Issues
Literature is a mirror of the society. In his writings, Raymond presented issues of concern to the society. The kind of stories discussed in this collection enables it to present a lot of issues of societal concern. These are issues affecting people in their day to day lives. They include the following:
Marriage
Essentially, What We Talk about When We Talk about Love is mainly about Mel, Teresa, Nick and Laura. These are couples who have been engaged in the institution of marriage. However, as they account in their conversations, marriage has turned out to be an experience which brings blissful and horrific life to them. In their discussions, it becomes evident on how they feel about the kind of relationships they have been involved in. in the story, some couples complain of the kind of abusive marriages they have had. As Myers argues, this has resulted from the decision of their partners to betray their love. However, some marriages have been fruitful because they have resulted into a happy life by some of the characters in the play.
Terri accounts for her marriage with Ed. He says that he was an abusive husband who never gave her a piece of mind during their marriage. Their relationship had become turbulent because, Ed had failed to acknowledge his role as a loving husband. Instead, he used to beat, bruise and threaten the life of his beloved wife, Terri. Even if Ed’s oppressions are interpreted as mere expression of love by Terri, they were actually not. As he story unfolded, such unfortunate events led to the tragic end of their marriage especially when Ed decided to commit suicide.
In Tell Me We Are Going, Raymond explains how marriage should be a respected institution. None of the couples should take advantage to oppress the other regardless of their gender. This is the only way through which people can enjoy their marriages. For instance, it was proved by the elderly couple who had to be hospitalized for getting involved in a tragic road accident. The elderly man proved his respect for his marriage and love to wife when he was depressed, not at the pains he was undergoing, but for being unable to se his wife. Marriage is a very important institution in the society which needs to be treated with respect and caution. Otherwise, if it is abusive, it can lead to antagonism which may eventually contribute to its collapse.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism has also become one of the major challenges affecting the society today. It prominently features in Cathedral and Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? For instance, in Chef's House, the Chef and his friend Wes are great drunkards. They can not do anything constructive. They only cause problems to other people. For example, his wife Edna and daughter Linda become the greatest victims of Wes drinking behavior. Many individuals and families have become what they are today because of alcoholism. It is also an aspect of behavior manifested in this anthology. Ann, C. (2002) retaliates that Raymond’s writings were influenced by his own life. Raymond himself being a former drunkard uses his life experiences to demonstrate how alcoholism can ruin people’s relationships. First and foremost, all the four characters are drinking. They drink throughout their discussions while at Mel’s house. It appears as if alcohol is a ritual in this society because they derive a lot of pleasure from it. They toss and exchange bottle every now and then. However, this negatively affects their discussion because they get confused about the topic of love which they have been discussing. As the story unfolds, they fail to understand the real meaning of love. In fact, their story comes into an abrupt end without any resolution.
Besides, in Everything Stuck to Him, Ed and the teenage driver are reported as good for nothing drunks. Ed decided to ruin his marriage to Terri as a result f his drinking behaviors. As Teri accounts, it made him act weirdly to the extent that he could not consciously understand his role as a husband. He was so irresponsible. Moreover, the teenage driver died I a road accident because he was driving under the influence of alcohol. This means that he died a useless death which would otherwise be avoided. Unfortunately, he caused great pains to the elderly couples who got a series of ‘internal injuries, fractures, incarnations and hemorrhaging contusions.’ This is a clear indication of how alcoholism has troubled the society for a very long time.
Violence
What We Talk About When We Talk about Love is full of violent reactions from different characters. It is a common knowledge that violence has bee one of the greatest challenges facing the society. The acts of violence are demonstrated in this short storing different ways. However, it later turns out to affect people in different ways. To begin with, there is violence in the family of Ed and Terri. As a husband, Ed is reported to be brutal to his wife. He often beats her and causes her a lot of pains. At one time, he decides to drag her by his ankle in the house. This made her bruise her body because she got knocked on the things around the house.
Later, he decides to extend his violence to committing suicide which he does on two attempts before eventually shooting himself. Violence is also indicated in the short story when bees cause murder to humans (Ann, C., 2002). However, these should be used as a lesson to sensitize people on responsible behavior. Violence is very bad because it does not reward anyone at all.
Love
According to King, S. (Nov. 19, 2009), Raymond extensively wrote about the topic of love. Love is a strong feeling of affection one person demonstrates to another person particularly of the same sex. It clearly comes out in What We Talk about When We Talk about Love. In fact, it is the main topic of discussion by Mel, Teresa, Nick and Laura. However, it becomes clear that they do not really understand the actual meaning of love. As a reader, I can ay that the kind of relationship which existed between Ed and Terri had no love at all. It was an abused love which did not materialize as a result of the irresponsibility of one of the couples. However, a strong feeling of love existed between the elderly couples. Instead of the elderly husband complaining about his pains, he laments that he ca no longer see his beloved wife. Surely, it was a true love.
In conclusion, I would like to point out that Raymond was in deed a great writer. His writings were cornered in major issues affecting the society. As a former alcoholic, he spent a lot of energy writing about the troubles caused by alcohol to people and their families. This has been demonstrated by characters like the Chef, Wes and Ed. Although he has been criticized by many scholars, they are must read articles.
Works Cited
Ann, C. (2002) the Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction. Pennsylvania:
Bedford/St. Martin's.
Carver, R. (2009) Collected Stories. New York: Library of America.
King, S. (Nov. 19, 2009) "Raymond Carver’s Life and Stories" New York: The New York Times.
Myers, D. G. (2008). "Between Stories: A Memoir of Raymond Carver." Philosophy and
Literature. London: Harvill Press.
