The Shift From Sight To Insight In The Cathedral By Raymond Carver

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Upon reading “The Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, the reader can immediately notice various literary elements he uses to show the shift from sight to insight in the narrator using symbolism, motifs, and theme. Carver illustrates the narrator as a somewhat racist, close-minded man towards the beginning of the story, but then evolves the character with the literary elements previously stated. Carver’s use of symbolism is shown in the final paragraphs of the story when he uses the pen the narrator and Robert use to draw the cathedral as a tunnel into Robert’s world of insight. The perplex world of the blind man is a shock to “Bub” as he explains in the quote: “His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now.” Robert finally shows his perspective to the narrator which causes him to have a revelation. When asked to open his eyes to see his drawing he dismisses and remains in his state of awareness. The pen is used as a portal to this state of awareness the narrator voyages to, which allows “Bub” to figuratively open his eyes. …show more content…

As the story goes on it is obvious that “Bub” may have a drinking problem and turns to the substance before stressful events in the story. This is shown just before the narrator’s wife was to tell him about Beulah, Robert’s wife: “I made a drink and sat at the kitchen table to listen.” At this moment the audience begins to understand that before most stressful events, the narrator makes a drink to take the edge off and distance himself from reality. This action of drinking allows him to decrease his level of insight to not think into things as much as he would

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