Kayla Vespia
Professor DeLaurentis
Writ 106-37/Essay 2
February 20, 2017 Do We Really Know What Love Is?
The story, “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” is an encounter of four
friends trying to figure out what love is, through past relationships or present actions. The main
character, Mel, is a cardiologist and as the narrator describes, “and sometimes that gives him the
right. (Carver 656)” This statement could be seen as quite ironic because Mel doesn’t even know
what true love looks or feels like, but his friends assume he does because his career revolves
around hearts and their physical and internal connections to the body. In other words, he not only
focuses on the physical hearts, but their love loves, as well. Although many people, including his
spouse and friends may not agree with the ideas that Mel has about love, it’s clear that he has
