What are the motifs in What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver?

Alcoholism is a recurring idea in the story. Alcoholism is a pervasive theme in Carver's stories. Carver himself was an alcoholic for over ten years. During his final year of drinking, he was hospitalized on four separate occasions for his alcoholism. He took his last drink in 1977, upon which he became dedicated to recovering from his alcoholism. He has stated in numerous interviews that he was more proud of having quit drinking than of anything else he'd ever done. This story is pervaded by alcohol and alcoholism. All four of the characters spend the evening sitting around drinking gin and tonic.