More handpicked essays just for you.
Gender role stereotypes in literature
Gender role stereotypes in literature
Gender stereotypes in literature
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Over time, perceptions of inequality have evolutionized. Slavery was abolished in 1865, women could finally vote in 1920, and Americans with disabilities were given support in 1990 due to the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is a fact that although many steps have been taking in history in order to provide equality with those with disabilities, there are still stereotypes that are used to label those who are mentally and physically impaired. This is shown in the short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, in which a blind man by the name of Robert, visits the narrator's wife in their home. Throughout the whole visit, the narrator blunty stereotypes Robert because of him being blind and is astounded as to how Robert can do menial tasks that …show more content…
the narrator also can do. In the end, he finally understands on a sort of spiritual level, how to see without his eyesight. Raymond Carver informs the readers in the short story “Cathedral” of the inequality and stereotypes that are used to label people with disabilities who are believed not to have the mental nor physical abilities to accomplish daily ritual tasks that people without disabilities could do. There are many important factors that make up the plot and the idea that it is trying to convey to it’s audience. One of the important factors are the characters. The characters in this short story include the unnamed narrator, Robert the blind man, and the narrator's wife. The unnamed narrator is written off as a ignorant and callous husband who mentally imagines his wife’s friend, Robert, as someone who is immobile, and “useless” to do anything for himself. Throughout the story his perception of the blind man changes, and finally in the end has an epiphany that allows him to connect to Robert in a sense that, the narrator is able to understand how to “see” with his eyes closed. Robert comes into the story having history with the narrator's wife and therefore visits her and the narrator at their home after tragedy happens and Robert’s wife passes away. He unknowingly proves to be able to perform tasks despite his disability. Robert then persuades the narrator to draw a cathedral with him in order to help him understand what a cathedral looks like. The narrator's wife who stays unnamed, invites Robert to their home to somehow to help him grieve over his Robert’s late wife. She has kept in contact with Robert over the course of their friendship of ten years through audiotapes. The narrator speaks of a period of time before they got married, when his wife had a previous marriage and attempted suicide. Without the narrator's heartless and ignorant perspective, Robert’s open minded personality, and the narrator's wife complicated past, “Cathedral” would not be able to convey it’s thoughts of inequality of those who are disabled or none less mentally stable. “Cathedral” is full of imperfectness. Robert has a disability, the narrator is judgemental, and the narrator’s wife is somewhat scarred mentally. They're all either mentally or physically imperfect which allows the readers to relate or compare themselves to the characters in the short story. Everyone has either been judgmental such as the narrator at some point in life, everyone have felt down or sad to the point where not sure of you’re own actions, and most of all everyone have been judged because of the differences in yourself and others whether it’s in your personality or appearance. However, the idea of imperfectness has stemmed always from inequality. For example, females have been ranked lower than the men and treated unequally which then have given the image of being imperfect due to their gender. Nowadays, many things have changed to the point where females are given high spot in society. Similarly, the image of those with disabilities have evolutionized. The perspective from for example the 1800’s have drastically changed to those who were mentally or physically deformed, unable to work were shunned or neglected till they died to where those who are disabled in today’s era, are given government assistance in order to allow them function as normally as they can. Carver writes of each of the characters turning point in life or a somewhat epiphany.
Robert’s turning point of life was most probable when he became blind and learned to live with his disability, The narrator’s wife’s turning point in life was when she met Robert and helped her turn her life around, finally the narrator had an epiphany at the end of the short story “Cathedral” where he learns to connect with Robert on a spiritual level. The narrator begins "to see with eyes other than that insufficient set that keep him a friendless drunk and a meager husband" (Facknitz 295). Without the narrator’s change in mindset, he would have continued to label Robert with stereotypes due to Robert’s …show more content…
disability. Carver presents the universal theme of Inequality. The microcosm of Inequality in this short story are those with who live with disabilities. Inequality is so grand in society today and has been living and happening for many years but there are also so many important factors that make it a whole which would include those with disabilities. As it was mentioned before, there have been many steps taken in history in order to rectify the problems needed in order to live without inequality. There are also people who take it into their own hands such as Laura Bridgman. Bridgman became blind and deaf at a very young due to contracting scarlet fever. Despite her disability, she aspired and successfully became an expert in language. In the short story “Cathedral”, there is a balance between optimism and pessimism. For example, when the narrator's wife is in her first marriage, she see the pessimistic view of the future which then results in her attempting suicide. She then receives more audiotapes from Robert and allows her to finally open up and began to view the optimistic view of future. Similarly the narrator who first hears of Robert from his wife, sees the negative view of how Robert is going to be but as the narrator begins to know him better and connect with him on a spiritual perspective despite the narrator previously labeling Robert with false stereotypes, he understands that there is postive side to the ordeal. History is a very large part of the message “Inequality in disabilities” that the author is trying to convey in “Cathedral” and allows it shape it into what is reality. In the 1800’s as previously mentioned, those who were disabled were considered objects of entertainment, used for ridicule and were not considered important enough to be allowed to work or do daily tasks. Compared to then and now, things are drastically different such as those who live with disabilities since for example nowadays, those who are either mentally or physically impaired, are given opportunities such as work hor housing and what not. Although doors have been opened, there is still much improvement that is needed to be done. Currently, there are 80% of disabled americans unemployed. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, “80% of individuals who receive employment or day services funded by state Departments of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities agencies, continue to do so in sheltered workshops and day activity programs”. (qtd. by Sowers) Being able to recognize that those with disabilities can usually do most of the tasks that we do daily will allow even more opportunities to open for them and allow them to prosper. Family is implied in “Cathedral” continuously. While the narrator and his wife are having an argument of Robert’s visit, the narrator’s wife say’s “ You don't have any friends, […] period.’ (Carver 36) This implies that the narrator does not have any friends therefore relies on his wife as his only friend and family. The narrator also speaks of his wife’s history of a failed marriage and suicide attempt. This implies that the wife was able to find somewhat comfort in her current husband therefore sees them as family. She also find comfort in Robert, the blind man, since from the very start she has kept in contact with him and even invited him to her home in order to help him grieve over the loss of his wife. She unlike her husband overlooked his disability and worked hard to maintain a strong relationship with him despite obstacles such as Robert not being able to see her. Robert who had also been married until his wife, Beulah, passed away from cancer, lost his only family since no one was around to help him until he fell in love with his wife. One can notice from Robert’s and the narrator’s wife interactions and conversations, that they are very familiar with each other and are comfortable with each other the point where one can notice that they care each other almost to the point of family. Every conversation in this short story points to one topic, Inequality or relates to those with disabilities.
For example in the short story “Cathedral” , before Robert’s visit, the narrator and his wife are having a conversation in the kitchen where he sarcastically says “Maybe I could take him bowling” (Carver 36), despite the narrator knowing of Robert being blind, he states this in order to put lower robert beneath him. There are also many moments in the story where the Robert proves the narrator's stereotypes wrong. When the couple and Robert sit down to eat their meal, the narrator mentions “I watched with admiration as he [Robert] used his knife and fork on the meat” (Carver 39). The narrator implies that he believed that Robert could not even perform the simple task of eating by himself without any assistance in which Robert was able to prove him wrong. Finally in the end where the narrator creates a special moment where he finally is able to understand Robert’s perspective. “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,' I said." (Carver 46) The narrator world becomes larger and bigger to the point where he is no longer inside the four walls of his home but he allows himself to go beyond
that. In the end of the “Cathedral” where Robert convinces the narrator to draw with him in order to help him understand what a cathedral looks like, creates a “psychological distance” between the narrator and two other characters. A “series of epiphanies, effectively conveying the story's central message on "blindness" and spiritual awakening”, occurs when the readers understand each and every perspective from the characters. (Peterson) Without the understand of the characters point of view, one would realize the importance or change in the narrator from being ignorant and closed mind to open and accepting. All in all, throughout the story many stereotypes are place to label a character and are challenged by proving them wrong. No longer is the narrator callous of those who are disabled but since being able to connect with Robert on a sort of spiritual level, he has been able to understand that just because one is disabled does not meant that they should be treated differently or treated unjust not just by Robert but by millions of other disabled people such as Laura Bridgman.
My own high school experience brought me one of my best friends who I hadn’t paid much attention to because she was in a different clique. I wouldn’t have even considered starting a friendship with her if I hadn’t gotten past my prejudiced ways and opened my mind. The story of “Cathedral” provides a very optimistic ending, which wouldn’t have been possible without the narrator’s initial negative traits. The blind man’s likeable character eventually helps the narrator to have a sort of epiphany in which he appears to leave behind his
Carver provides an easy, visual outlook of the protagonist throughout the short story, which helps keep a better understanding during the simple yet intense experience. As the story continues, the protagonist enhances his mood as he aids Robert to visualizing a cathedral. This experience creates an impact on others because it is a great reason why one should never judge someone for something beyond their control. Also, helping someone, as Robert does for Bub, can be a life changing experience. Despite the blind man being physically blind, the husband is the one with the disability to see from someone else’s perspective.
The close outside friendship between the narrator’s wife and Robert, the blind man, provokes the narrator’s insecurities. This friendship has lasted for ten long years. During those years, they have exchanged countless voice tapes wherein they both tell each other what has happened in their respective lives. Because of this, the narrator feels that his wife has told Robert more than Robert needs to know. The narrator laments, "she told him everything or so it seemed to me" (1054). The narrator’s fear is somehow confirmed when Robert arrives and says that he feels like they have already met (1055). The narrator is left wondering what his wife has disclosed. This murky situation leaves the narrator feeling insecure, especially when he sees the warm interaction between his wife and Robert.
The fact that Robert is blind is stated quite frequently in this story. Even though we know he has a visual handicap, he is very open minded. The narrator however, can see just fine, but is very close minded. The close mindedness seems to be more of a problem for the narrator than Robert’s blindness. The narrator has no friends, and a life of no significance. In drawing the cathedral, the narrator finds not being able to see can be liberating. and seems to help him let go of his prejudices, and come to accept a new way of seeing. This story shows us that we can prevent ourselves from seeing what is really there by blinding ourselves, but that we have the ability to open our minds and seeing what is really
In the story "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, the main character, goes through a major personal transformation. At the beginning of the story, his opinions of others are filled with stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice. Through interaction with his wife's blind friend Robert, his attitude and outlook on life changes. Although at first he seemed afraid to associate with a blind man, Robert's outgoing personality left him with virtually no choice. During Robert's visit, he proved to be a normal man, and showed the speaker that by closing his eyes, he could open his mind.
In the eyes of the narrator, Robert’s blindness is his defining characteristic. The opening line of "Cathedral" reads, "This blind man, an old friend of my wife’s, he was on his way to spend the night" (1052). Clearly, the narrator cannot see past Robert’s disability; he dismisses him in the same way a white racist might dismiss a black person. In reality, any prejudice—be it based on gender, race, or disability—involves a person’s inability to look past a superficial quality. People who judge a person based on such a characteristic are only seeing the particular aspect of the person that makes them uncomfortable. They are not seeing the whole person. The narrator has unconsciously placed Robert in a category that he labels abnormal, which stops him from seeing the blind man as an individual.
“Cathedral,” a short story written by Raymond Carver, presents an intriguing story of an ignorant man 's lesson. During this story, Carver 's working class characters are crushed by broken marriages, financial issues, and fulfilling jobs, but they are frequently unable to understand or communicate their own sufferings. However, the main story consists of the narrator, known as “Bub,” facing an internal conflict about a blind man named Robert staying the night in his home. Regardless of the fact that this blind man is his wife 's long time friend, the narrator cannot find himself comfortable with such an idea because of his extreme prejudices. Although, despite the narrator’s conflict he finds himself connecting to Robert on a more personal
In Raymond Carver's "Cathedral," the husband's view of blind men is changed when he encounters his wife's long time friend, Robert. His narrow minded views and prejudice thoughts of one stereotype are altered by a single experience he has with Robert. The husband is changed when he thinks he personally sees the blind man's world. Somehow, the blind man breaks through all of the husband's jealousy, incompetence for discernment, and prejudgments in a single moment of understanding.
Instead of basing his judgement on character the narrator decided to see Robert as a blind man that was trying to have an affair with his wife. Carver uses this story “Cathedral” to open the readers eyes and send the profound message of intolerance and ignorance and how one can be blind mentally not physically. The narrator is so hostile to the idea of a visit from Robert because he is blinded by jealousy, anger, and
He constantly complains that “a blind man in my house was not something [he looked] forward to” (362). The close friendship between the narrator’s wife and Robert provokes his insecurities. This friendship has lasted for ten years and during those years, they have exchanged countless tapes regarding experiences they have gone through. Because of this, her husband feels “she [has] told him everything or it seems” (363) about their relationship. Upon the arrival of his wife’s friend, the husband is ultimately uncomfortable around Robert because he does not know how to communicate with or act around him.
Raymond Carver’s short story, “Cathedral,” portrays a story in which many in today’s society can relate. We are introduced from the first sentence of the story to a man that seems to be perturbed and agitated. As readers, we are initially unsure to the reasoning’s behind the man’s discomfort. The man, who seems to be a direct portrayal of Raymond Carver himself, shows his ignorance by stereotyping a blind man by the name of Robert, who has come to stay with he and his wife. From the very beginning, Carver shows his detest for Robert but over the course of the story eases into comfort with him and in the end is taught a lesson from the very one he despised.
...ry there are many instances in which the narrator seems to dislike Robert, in which case it is because he is “blind”. Not only is he blinded in the way that he cannot understand Robert, but it leads him to believe that Robert is not human at all because of his disability that he possess. The narrator develops with the aid of Robert, to see Robert as an actual human being. Raymond Carver gives the narrator a transformation through characterization as well as the aid of Robert to show his development and progression throughout the story.
The short story of the “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver shows the narrator as the main character of the story whose name is never mentioned. The narrator’s wife’s name is never mentioned as well, and her friend who is a blind man is coming to visit after losing his wife whose name is Robert. In the beginning of the story, the narrator shows that he is an excessive drinker and feels emotionally disconnected from his wife and his wife is excited about her friends visit, Robert. This kind of emotion makes him uneasy but doesn’t know why and because he knows that Robert is blind, he feels like he is better than him. Imagine having to meet a long time old friend of your spouse of the opposite sex who they a special friendship with and whom you haven’t
The husband in Raymond Carvers “Cathedral” wasn’t enthusiastic about his wife’s old friend, whom was a blind man coming over to spend the night with them. His wife had kept in touch with the blind man since she worked for him in Seattle years ago. He didn’t know the blind man; he only heard tapes and stories about him. The man being blind bothered him, “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 137)” The husband doesn’t suspect his ideas of blind people to be anything else. The husband is already judging what the blind man will be like without even getting to actually know him. It seems he has judged too soon as his ideas of the blind man change and he gets a better understanding of not only the blind man, but his self as well.
...h it emotionally detached without the pleasure of living. In the end, when the narrator has his eyes closed drawing the cathedral, he is the most open he has even been to the world. The narrator’s limited point of view in the story was crucial in showing the reader that what will hold you back the most in life are your biases and judgments. If the story was told in Robert’s point of view, it would have been a joyful story about visiting a long time friend, even with the tragedy of his wife’s death. We would have never known of the prejudices that were held inside the husband, and no true theme would have come from the story. The limited point of view was used in a way that expanded upon the theme even more, and made for a stronger story structure.