Raymond Carver's Cathedral: A Changed Man

Character in “Cathedral”: A Changed Man

Character is an imperative element to a story’s meaning. In order for a story to be captivating and perpetuate meaning, it must have sufficient character. Without the literary device of character, the story would disintegrate into a state of lifeless monotony. In Raymond Carver’s short story, “Cathedral”, the inclusion of character is noticeable throughout, and provides motivation for the reader to continue reading. “Cathedral” follows the narrator, who is the protagonist of the story, and his wife, and a blind man named Robert. The blind man, who is a friend of the narrator’s wife, is invited to stay with them for a period of time. As a result, the narrator displays jealously and resentment of

the blind man being in his house. However, throughout the story, the narrator discovers more about himself due to his interaction with Robert, evolving him into a better man. Therefore, the utilization of character immensely contributes to conveying the overall meaning in “Cathedral”.
Firstly, the actions of the characters contribute to the sequence of events of the story. The character’s actions cause a stream of events to occur, producing the plot and adding to the meaning of the story. Thinking of his perception of a blind man, the narrator states, “My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs. A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to” (Carver 86). This portrays the narrator’s initial belief of how a blind man acts and appears. He demonstrates a resentment and ignorance of blind people by stating he doesn’t want a blind man in his house based on what he has seen in movies. This sets the stage for the events that take place once Robert arrives at his home and meets the narrator, “The blind man let go of his suitcase and up came his hand. I took it. He squeezed hard, held my hand, and then he let it go. I feel like we’ve already met, he boomed. Likewise, I said. I didn’t know what else to say” (Carver 89). This displays the awkwardness in the narrator meeting the blind man. He immediately feels uncomfortable and hesitant in speaking to Robert. He doesn’t know how he should act or what he should say. This illustrates how the actions of the character can affect the events and the meaning of the story.
In addition to the character’s actions, the character’s development throughout the events also contributes to the story’s meaning.

Within the beginning of the story, the narrator is initially shown to be a self-centered, ignorant, isolated, and profoundly judgmental person. For example, his wife states he has no friends, “I don’t have any blind friends, I said. You don’t have any friends, she said. Period. Besides, goddamn it, his wife’s just died! Don’t you understand that? I didn’t answer” (Carver 88). This shows that he is has little sympathy for the blind man, and he simply doesn’t care. Seeing the blind man arrive at his home for the first time, the narrator states, “The blind man, feature this, he was wearing a full beard! A beard on a blind man! Too much, I say” (Carver 89). This portrays the narrator judging the blind man based solely on his appearance. Another way the narrator shows his character is how he perceives blind people by stating, “My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs. A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to” (Carver 86). This shows how the narrator stereotypes the blind man based on what he had seen in movies, rather than personal experiences. However, the narrator evolves the more he interacts with the blind man throughout the story. He displays his sensitive side when his wife is explaining the story of the blind man and his wife who had passed away, “Hearing this, I felt sorry for the blind man for a little bit. And then 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” (Carver 88). In this brief moment, the narrator shows compassion for the blind man and his wife. Furthermore, near the end of the story, the narrator finally has a realization of what it means to be blind. He learns to

respect blind people, rather than believe his preconceived notions. In addition, he learns about himself and begins to see life from new perspectives. Drawing a cathedral with Robert and seeing the drawing for what it really is, he becomes changed, “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything. It’s really something” (Carver 97). This shows how the development of character can add to the meaning of the story.
Lastly, the emotions and characteristics of the character can contribute to the story’s overall meaning. The character’s attitude and thinking towards the story’s subjects are relatable to the reader. They are shown to hold essence and realism. For instance, the narrator displays his emotions early in the story when he is talking of his wife and the blind man, “She told me he touched his fingers to every part of her face, her nose---even her neck!” (Carver 86). His tone implies that he is jealous of the blind man being with his wife. This shows he deeply cares for his wife even though he may not show it. Another example is how the narrator’s preconceptions about blind people begin to change when he finally meets Robert, “But he didn’t use a cane and he didn’t wear dark glasses. I’d always thought dark glasses were a must for the blind” (Carver 90). This can be relatable to readers due to many most likely believing the same as the narrator if they have never met a blind man. Therefore, the character’s emotions and characteristics significantly influences the meaning of the story.
In conclusion, character is an essential part to a story’s overall meaning. The character’s actions, development, and emotions can significantly aid in conveying the meaning of the story. The short story, “Cathedral”, indisputably proves this notion. Without the use of character, the story’s meaning can become lost in the context, losing the interest of the reader. As a result, it may become practically impossible to accurately and successfully demonstrate the story’s meaning. Thus, character provides a significant amount of substance to a story’s meaning.