Identity In Raymond Carver's, The Cathedral

Raymond Carver’s, “The Cathedral” is a short story told by the narrator, whose actual identity remains unknown. The narrator tells of an evening where his wife invites an old friend and former patient, by the name of Robert, over to spend the night. The only thing that differentiates Robert from the rest of the group is the simple fact that he is blind. The narrative is seemingly flat and uneventful upon initial observation. Although this may be true, it is blatantly apparent that the narrator or bud, a nicknamed coined by Robert, is close-minded and quick to make preconceived notions and assumptions about circumstances that he is unfamiliar with, especially Robert’s inability to see. Upon deeper analysis it is discovered that Bud, the narrator,

As the narrator’s wife tells him of a few of Robert’s exploits and the recent passing of his wife, bud “was filled with more information than needed and made himself a drink to piece the story together.” (Pg. 34) Every event or instance where bud is left to talk about the blind man, he becomes seemingly uneasy and uncomfortable. He does now know how to act around someone with this affliction because he has never had to in the past and has preconceived notions about what the blind will and should be like. When it came time for the narrator’s wife to pick up Robert from the depot, she left and bud “was left with nothing to do so I had a drink”(pg. 35). This is yet another example of bud’s apparent excessive consumption. He does this as he waits in anticipation almost as a way to calm his nerves and to prevent him from having to deal with his

Due to his inability to see, Robert asks the narrator to describe to him how the buildings look and about how the fixtures and details that are affixed to them. Bud questioned his ability to be descriptive by stating, “How could I begin to describe it?, but say my life depended on it?” (Pg. 40) The narrator questions his abilities because, he wants to give an accurate depiction but does not quite know the words to say. His inability to communicate in the past is being challenged in this very moment, by the person he least expected to connect with. In the process of describing the cathedrals, Robert suggests actually drawing one. Bud appears, with pen and paper in hand; ready to delve into the process. Bud speaks of Robert by saying, “He found my hand, the hand with the pen. He closed his hand over my hand. Go ahead, bub, draw.”(Pg. 42) The connection that unfolds between Robert and the narrator was unforeseen but allowed the narrator to be bigger than himself for once. Upon superficial analysis it seems as if the narrator is doing this for Robert but upon deep observation, it is Robert who is doing this for the narrator. With the help of Robert, the narrator is given the opportunity to be selfless and break through all of the self-serving habits of the past, and is in so many ways renewed and reawakened through the