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It’s often that the most influential lessons learned in life are those that come when we least expect it. Raymond Carver’s realistic short story “Cathedral” presents a broken, disassociated narrator struggling to find meaning in his marriage, career, and himself. Extremely uncomfortable with the idea of Robert, a blind man emotionally intertwined with his wife’s past, the narrator displays his inexperience with the visionary disabled with an unusual amount of jealous backlash, revealing his deep-rooted lack of empathy in the beginning of the story. Robert, however, proves to be an extraordinary, and ironic, representation of the vision and clarity that the narrator is missing from his life. As a result, Robert works as the catalyst that helps …show more content…
him reach an epiphany that he never felt possible. By analyzing the tactical actions of Robert, it is clear that his motives are aimed toward helping the narrator gain deeper empathy for the people that he does not fully understand, and most importantly, his pleading wife and failing marriage. Robert’s arrival signals the beginning of a dramatic transformation within the dynamic of the narrator and his wife’s marriage. Before his arrival, their tense relationship is at a crossroads. The narrator’s wife is fed up with his insensitivity and callous outlook on life and defaults to short and bitter comments rather than caring, full exchanges in conversation. In what seems to be another mundane evening for the narrator, his ineptitude is given an ultimatum by his wife when she demands cooperation: “’If you love me,’ she said, ‘you can do this for me. If you don’t love me, okay’” (208). The narrator, however, is not as willing to cooperate genuinely. We can see through the narrator’s misguided view of blindness that he isn’t a very compassionate man toward those he doesn’t understand, contrary to his wife. He elaborates, “And his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies” (206). The narrator’s immaturity is evident based on his false perception of Robert. He is a man that judges without experience or exposure, and one that does not seek truth or challenge the world around him. His wife, on the other hand, has a deeply profound understanding of Robert and his blindness. Because of this, the narrator focuses heavily on his wife throughout the story in bouts of wicked jealousy. Robert is a threat to his own validity in the eyes of his wife: “She told me he touched his fingers to every part of her face, her nose—even her neck! She never forgot it” (207). He can’t stand the thought of a blind man touching his wife’s face, nor can he comprehend the legitimacy of the interaction. The narrator’s wife uses their exchanging of tapes as a sort of therapy, to express her inner conflictions and vices after such a catastrophic battle with depression that troubled the woman. Knowing that Robert has extensive knowledge about the narrator irks him beyond belief. He describes as they sit and listen to one of the audiotapes where the narrator describes, “I heard my own name in the mouth of this stranger, this blind man I didn’t even know! And then this: ‘From all you’ve said about him, I can only conclude-‘ But we were interrupted…I’d heard all I wanted to” (208). He is aware of the vulnerability of his relationship with his wife at the hands of Robert because she relies on him for emotional support. However, Robert can feel this tension and ironically sees right through the narrator. It’s evident that Robert and the narrator know much about each other, thus Robert already has a deep understanding of some of the issues of their marriage. He has no issue referring to the narrator as, “Bub,” in an endearing manner that the narrator chooses to take as condescending (210). The narrator has an array of judgmental thoughts streaming constantly about Robert, assuming that they don’t smoke because they can’t physically see the smoke, or that he’d have trouble eating without seeing the food in front of them (210). Robert, however, manages to stump all of his false preconceived notions to which the narrator is admirable: “The blind man had right away located his foods, he knew just where everything was on his plate. I watched with admiration…” (211). As they continued to talk, the narrator watched “in vain” and waited to be praised for being a wonderful husband, which never happened, and the conversation remained between Robert and the narrator’s wife (211). Robert, however, knows that soon the wife will be retiring to her room, and determines the perfect opportunity to really get to speak with ‘Bub.’ Robert agrees to smoke some dope, even though he’s never had any interest in it before, as a way of opening up the relationship between him and Bub. After the wife finally falls asleep, Bub offers to take Robert to his room, to which he replies, “No, I’ll stay up with you, bub. If that’s all right…We haven’t had a chance to talk…I feel like me and her monopolized the evening” (213). Bub is taken aback, but pleasantly surprised, saying, “’I’m glad for the company.’ And I guess I was” (213). In this moment, Robert manages to shatter the narrator’s earlier resentments by showing interest in him. And now that they are alone and the narrator is vulnerable, Robert begins to really pry into the stubborn man with the goal of opening his eyes. As Robert and Bub sit and watch television in silence, the dynamic between the two men drastically shifts.
The television programs shifts to a cathedral, and Bub realizes the blunt truth that Robert has never even seen a cathedral. He asks Robert, “Do you have any idea what a cathedral is?... If somebody says cathedral to you, do you have any notion what they’re talking about?” (214). In his response, Robert counters that he knows the work that goes into them, that men and women die before their work on the cathedral is ever finished, and, “In that wise, bub, they’re no different from the rest of us, right?” (214). He begins to help the narrator understand that his ‘vision’ isn’t literal sight, but the information and value of the world around him, unlike the narrator’s surface level, shallow view of the world. Robert then, in tactically guides the narrator toward his epiphany by asking him to describe the cathedral to him. The narrator struggles to describe them with detail, and admits, “The truth is, cathedrals don’t mean anything special to me. Nothing” (215). The narrator is vulnerable, talking about himself and opening up to Robert, just as he wants. Robert responds, “I get it, bub. It’s okay. It happens. Don’t worry about it,” speaking to the narrator as if he is his parent (215). This is when he strategically asks him to grab a pen and help him draw the cathedral. As if in a meditative state, Robert sits on the floor next to the narrator and closes his hand around Bub’s. Their interaction is intimately religious, with Robert coaching him the entire time: “Never thought anything like this could happen in your lifetime, did you, bub? Well, it’s a strange life, we all know that” (216). Bub is transfixed in their physical connection, despite their wife interjecting. He continues to draw, stating, “I couldn’t stop” (216). Robert hushes the wife, and gently directs Bub, “close your eyes now,” to which he does, without question: “I did it. I closed them just like
he said” (216). They continue, in grace and clarity, to which Robert is able to symbolically open Bub’s eyes to the world around him that he was so uninterested in before: “My eyes were closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything” (216). He has been transported to an elevated state of existential realization, able to understand compassion and personal connection, all because of Robert’s perceptive touch. The development of Bub from a stubborn, reserved and uninspired man to an empathetic, deeper human is carefully planned and executed by Robert. Before even arriving, his knowledge of the narrator and the struggles he and his wife face in their marriage allows Robert to manipulate the interactions between the two men. By guiding their conversation, Robert builds a bridge between the two men, slowly breaking down the narrator’s defensive, ignorant barriers. In an epiphany, the narrator views the world around him in a more spiritual and unequivocally coherent way. By remaining on the floor with Robert’s hand wrapped around his, eyes closed, the two sit in equal understanding of one another. Bub learns true compassion, whether he knows how to explain it or not, in that moment, and that the world is more than just what is in plain sight. It’s much deeper and more astonishing than he could ever see before a blind man truly opened his eyes.
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.
These audiotapes represent a distinguished type of communication that requires no visual interaction, but an interface that involves understanding and empathy instead, something the narrator has not yet learned. At this point of the story the narrator believes that Robert could not have possibly fulfilled his now deceased wife’s, Beulah’s, aspirations as seen when he states, “I found myself thinking what a pitiful life this woman must have led,” (37). The narrator bases his reason solely on the fact that the man is blind, so how could he have ever interacted or contributed in their relationship. In reality, though, it is the narrator himself, who has not fully satisfied or even begun to fully appreciate his own wife. The audiotapes symbolize this absence of appreciation and reveals to the reader that the narrator has not even considered this “harmless chitchat,” (36) as he describes it, to be of importance to his own marriage. It is not until the end, when he finishes drawing the cathedral that he is capable of understanding what his wife and Robert share. The cathedral is the other major symbol in this story, since it is the pivotal turning point for when the narrator becomes a dynamic character. Without the cathedral the narrator would not have succumbed to his new acceptance of what it means to actually see someone or something. When the narrator says, “I didn’t feel like I was inside anything,” (46) this is the indication of that epiphany coming to him. Moments before, the narrator had just explained to Robert that he did not “believe in it [religion]. In anything,” (45) however, this insightful moment now contradicts that statement, supporting the notion that the narrator has advanced as a character. Furthermore, a cathedral, which is assumed to bring solace and a new light to those in pursuit of one, offered the
The short story, “Cathedral,” by Raymond Carver, is about a blind man who changes the way the narrator views life by giving him some insight on how he sees things. The characters in this short story are constantly developing into better versions of themselves by sharing their insights with one another.
In the short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, the narrator, Bub, is as metaphorically blind as his guest, Robert, is literally blind. Bub has many unwarranted misconceptions about life, blind people in particular. He also has many insecurities that prevent him from getting too close to people. Through his interaction with Robert, Bub is able to open his mind and let go of his self-doubt for a moment and see the world in a different light.
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.
At first glance, one might assume Raymond Carver’s "Cathedral" illustrates the awakening of an insensitive and insulated husband to the world of a blind man. However, this literal awakening does not account for the fact that the husband awakens also to a world of religious insight, of which he has also been blind. The title and story structure are the first indicators of the importance of the religious thesis. It is also revealed when one examines the language and actions of the characters in the story. Finally, Carver’s previous and subsequent writings give an overall background for the argument that "Cathedral" has a significant religious import.
The narrator in Raymond Carver’s "Cathedral" is not a particularly sensitive man. I might describe him as self-centered, superficial, and egotistical. And while his actions certainly speak to these points, it is his misunderstanding of the people and the relationships presented to him in this story which show most clearly his tragic flaw: while Robert is physically blind, it is the narrator who cannot clearly see the world around him.
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.
By becoming close with Robert, the man in this story experienced what was necessary to gain an understanding of what life is like for the blind. The man began to draw the cathedral to try and help Robert visualize what one looked like. What he didn't realize at the time was that Robert was helping him to visualize what blindness felt like. Bibliography: Carver, Raymond. "Cathedral".
In Raymond Carver’s story “Cathedral” the narrator learns what it means to “see” through someone who cannot. To see is to be able to view the things around us while putting aside preconceived notions or fear about these objects or people. In order for this to occur once must overcome what they feel is out of the ordinary and learn to accept things as they are. At first the narrator is doesn’t accept the man and uncomfortable around Robert. The narrator soon comes to understand this when he puts aside his fears, and judgments that he can see more than what meets the eye, and the freedom that comes along with this seeing.
Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" depicted the interaction between a narrow minded husband, with a limited understanding of the world around him, and a blind visitor, named Robert, that proved to be the catalyst that dramatically changed the husband's view on the world, while they went from being strangers to becoming friends. In the beginning of the story, the husband disliked the concept of his wife bringing her blind friend over to stay since he never had met a blind person before and did not understand it. However, as the story progresses, the husband, through interaction and observation, begins to dispel his fears and misconceptions of Robert and his blindness. With the help of Robert, the husband gains a revelation that changed his view and opened his eyes to the world.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. We have all heard this cliché at least once in our lifetime. But how many times have we ever followed through with this expression? The author Raymond Carver writes about an experience where a couple is visited by the wife’s acquaintance Robert, whose wife has recently passed. The fact that Robert is blind belittles him in the eyes of the narrator, causing tension and misjudgment. In “Cathedral”, Carver uses irony, point of view, and symbolism to show the difference between looking and truly seeing.
In Raymond Carver’s story, “Cathedral,” the story tells of how a close outside relationship can threaten a marriage by provoking insecurities, aggravating communication barriers, and creating feelings of invasion of privacy. The husband in the story is given the gift of seeing the cathedral through a blind man’s eyes. Although the title suggests that the story is about a cathedral, it is really about two men who come together and share a vision and realize it is he who is blind. As the story begins, the character of the husband has a negative personality. He lacks compassion, is narrow-minded, and is jealous of his wife’s friendship with a blind man named Robert.
Raymond Carver utilizes his character of the husband, who is also the narrator, in his short story "Cathedral." From the beginning of the story the narrator has a negative personality. He lacks compassion, has a narrow mind, is detached emotionally from others, and is jealous of his wife's friendship with a blind man named Robert. He never connects with anyone emotionally until the end of this story.
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.