Many of Raymond Carver's stories contain depictions of certain aspects of his life. One obvious pattern shown throughout his stories is alcohol. Drinking gin seems to be in many of his stories. Two stories similar to each other are "Cathedral" and "What we talk about when we talk about love". The two stories both show miscommunication and emotional disconnection from one another.
             The use of altering drugs is apparent in both of these short stories as it does in many others. In many instances in reality alcohol is used as a way to loosen up and get to know people. It is also away for some people to distance them selves from one another. Both actions are not always easily detected in literature. Ganja is also used to relieve tensions between people but is not publicized as much as alcohol.
             In what we talk about the four people are drinking gin as they talk about love. For some it is an uncomfortable subject due to past experiences or lack of knowledge. Gin in this case was a way to bring every one to the same emotionally open state of mind. People would less likely be offended and hurt if something was said. As the group conversed Terri talked about a past love that was so deep in love violence was his only way of expression. The topic at any other time (sober) she might have reacted differently about what was said.
             "What we talk about when we talk about love" was a story about a group of friends (couples) that sat around a kitchen table one night. They sat at the table passing around a bottle of gin. As the bottle went around they talked about love and what it meant. They all had their own depiction of what it meant to love some one. As the night went on they discussed the topic together but without ever seeming to make connections with one another.
             "Cathedral" was a story about three people, a man and his wife and his wife's blind friend from a previous marriage. They blin...