Comparing Similarities Between 'Cathedral And' Désirée's Baby

A perfect world where people accept everyone seems like a nice idea. Unfortunately, most people have no filter and will judge others. While the narrator from “Cathedral” and Armand from “Désirée’s Baby” are both extremely judgmental, the narrator soon comes to realize that there is more to a person than physical appearance, whereas Armand is left unsatisfied with himself due to his judgments about skin color. Through the use of the two opinionated men, Kate Chopin and Raymond Carver demonstrate how people who are too judgmental will mourn in their loneliness, whereas those who overcome prejudice find joy.

Chopin and Carver reveal through the narrator and Armand how making quick judgments creates faulty relationships. In "Cathedral" Robert,

a blind man that will soon visit the narrator and his wife, is a victim of the narrator’s rude remarks: “‘Maybe I can take him bowling’” (Carver 61). The rude comment, stating how the narrator will take Robert bowling despite his blindness, shows how cruel and cold hearted the narrator is toward someone who is different than him. In addition, the narrator also attacks Robert’s wife asking if she “‘was…a negro’” just because her name is Beulah (61). The narrator questions her race not because he is actually curious, but because he is not too fond of Robert. The narrator also questions whether Robert can fulfill the needs of a woman who has her sight. With the judgments made by the narrator about a blind man, Armand is no different than the narrator. Armand is confronted with the question on what the baby's skin color means and responds with, “‘that the child is not white; it means that you are not white’” (Chopin 660). Armand, after having already shown great love for his baby, suddenly disproves of him, because the baby is not white. Armand lets his judgments take control which causes him to care less for his own child. Désirée is upset about the situation and asks Armand “‘do you want me to go?’” to which he responds, “‘Yes, I want you to go’” (661). Because Armand is not happy with his black baby, he is willing to lose Désirée, his wife, which does not seem to bother him that he will. Armand is ashamed because his child and decides it would be best for him to be alone and not bothered. Both the narrator and Armand express themselves openly which leads to problems within themselves. Chopin and Carver depict how unnecessary judgments and remarks can be the building blocks for disaster.
Carver exposes how making judgments according to stereotypes makes the narrator overlook the truth.

At the beginning of the story the narrator states how “My idea of blindness came from the movies… the blind moved so slowly and never laughed” (Carver 60). Because the narrator makes all his assumptions from movies, Carver shows how ignorant he is be about someone he has never met. People who are quick to judge tend to be caught off guard by the unexpected truths of the person they judged. The narrator hears how Robert’s wife has passed and says, "'I found myself thinking what a pitiful life this woman must have led. Imagine a woman who could never see herself as she was seen in the eyes of her loved one’” (62). What the narrator does not understand is that there is more to love than appearance. Robert can see his wife, but in a different way; Robert sees his wife’s beauty by touch. The narrator is makes too many assumptions based on stereotypes: “‘I’d always thought dark glasses were a must for the blind’” (63). The narrators thought of the blind, to his surprise, proves to be wrong. The narrator, though a unimportant discovery, finds out about how he was wrong about Robert leading him closer the finding the truth. Both the narrator and Armand are eventually exposed to the truth, but make different

choices.
Just like the narrator, Armand fails to understand the truth, which causes a failing relationship because he is so blindly racist.

When Armand was younger, his "rule was a strict one... and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay" (659). The fact that Armand's rules are harsh enough to restrict his slaves from being happy shows how cruel his mindset is as well as how strong his racism is; which later advances how he reacts to the race of his own child. Armand goes through a pile of papers and reads through a letter that says, “‘…I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that...Armand will never know his mother...belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery’” (Chopin 661). Before Armand finds evidence that it he is black, he is quick to put the blame on his wife for being the one who carries the black race in her blood. Désirée comes to Armand asking questions about the baby to which he replies, “‘It means… that the child is not white; it means you are not white’” (660). Before coming to any other conclusion, Armand stays with the idea that it is not him who is black and leaves the blame on his loved one causing her to feel ashamed about herself. Chopin and Carver present the idea that people who cannot put aside their own selfish assumptions tend to destroy anything that means something to them, leaving them to face the ultimate

consequences.
Both characters are driven by their ideas of others, but the narrator soon overcomes his flawed attitude while Armand is trapped within his judgments. Long after Robert arrives, the narrator states, “‘I’m glad for your company’” (Carver 66). The narrator has time to spend with the blind man doing whatever the narrator desires. Robert goes along with everything the narrator does and finds that Robert’s company is enjoyable and Robert says, “‘We’ll do something. We’ll draw one together’” (68). By spending the short amount of time with Robert, the narrator starts to see like a blind person sees. The fact that the narrator is allowing Robert to join in activities without making a rude remark or gesture, proves that once the narrator passes the judgmental stage, it allows him to find the goodness in Robert. The Armand, on the other hand, is still trapped in his life of judgments. Armand “thought Almighty God had dealt cruelly and unjustly with him” because of the fact that he was given a black child (Chopin 661). Armand did everything to himself because of his unjust racism, being the reason for his imperfect son and fails to get past what is stopping him from being happy, thus making his own life a disaster. Désirée tells Armand, “‘Good-by…’” as Armand sits there and says nothing (661). Failing to chase after Désirée because of how strong his racism is, Armand struggles to get past the obstacle in his life. If Armand had said something about his love or even simply apologized, he would still have his family there with him. Unfortunately, it is too late for him and his judgments lead to the corruption of his life. Both authors make clear that assumptions or judgments are bad for keeping something good in your life but the way people deal with them determines everything. Chopin shows that letting go of those judgments create strong and healthy friendships and how being stubborn is unhealthy to keep such relationships.
Chopin and Carver help expose, through the narrator and Armand, that judgmental people can either stay reminiscing over things they once had or they can be strong enough to bypass their own judgments and find joy. Individuals are caught in between the worst trait of all, being too judgmental. The trouble with being too opinionated is that it has potential to destroy any type of relationship. Even if people state that their judgments will never rule them, those judgments can find way to expose itself. Someone being able to control their thoughts has an advantage over those who fail to hold them back. If judgments are able to be controlled and kept to a minimum, people who are open-minded can allow others into their lives resulting in the possibility of successful and strong relationships.