Carver uses literary language to help perceive the narrator as an ignorant, disrespectful person. The narrator believes Robert is an abnormal person in society, so he does not want Robert in his house. Even after learning the blind man’s name, the narrator insists on calling him “the blind man” throughout…
“Cathedral” begins with the narrator introducing his wife’s friend, Robert, who is coming to the narrators’ house to spend the night. He had recently lost his wife and the narrators’ wife had invited him to visit her after years of separation. She had met Robert when she landed a job to read to a blind man and they kept in touch through tapes, even after she left the job. The narrator was not looking forward to meeting Robert because his idea of a blind man came from the movies, which showed that they moved slowly and rarely laughed. As the story unfolds, the narrator begins to have a different opinion about the blind. Raymond Carver uses symbolism, characterization, and an involved narrative point of view to show the difference between being able to see something and being able to understand what the real meaning of it is. As the story evolves, the characteristics of the narrator begin to change as he interacts with Robert.…
Throughout Raymond Carver’s story “Cathedral” one is shown three very vague characters. First being the narrator/ husband of the wife. He is the most important of characters because the story is his point of view and about his “blindness” as a person. Secondly, there is the wife whom used to work for the blind man. Lastly, the blindman named Robert whom has helped the wife in times of need. Do to the husband being the narrator, one will recognize his emotional detachment to the other characters in the story. An example of this detachment is that he doesn’t call anyone by their names or address them with any names. Bethany Qualls writer of “A Narrator’s Blindness in Raymond Carver’s a “Cathedral” does a very good job at describing the narrators…
in the poem cathedral by robert carvin the narrator is told by his wife that she is inviting a blind friend over the narrator finds out that his wife has been send audio tapes with a blind man named Robert who she worked for several years ago. at first the narrator was closed minded about the blind man but when the wife bring the blindman from the airport he introduces himself as robert the first thing that came to robert mind was that not what he was expecting a blind man to look like how robert was dressed he was not expecting him to have a full beard and not wear dark glasses.During his visit and dinner, the narrator feels threatened by the relationship his wife and Robert share and he doesn't know why throughout the story the narrator…
The narrator in Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral,” is portrayed as someone who lacks insight and awareness of the things around him. He is paralyzed, stuck in a destructive way of living. The narrator does not realize the limitations he has placed on himself that prevent him from seeing things greater than life.…
Raymond Carver, Jr. was an American short story author and poet. He was born in 1938 and died in 1988. He was married twice, struggled with drugs and alcoholism, and was an unsuccessful writer early on in his career. It was not until his publication of “Cathedral” that he gained success. Carver even believed that “Cathedral was a watershed in his career, in its shift towards a more optimistic and confidently poetic style” (Arciniegas). “Cathedral” starts out slow, spending most of the short story on the back story of the narrator’s wife and a blind man. The story progresses with the three characters doing mostly everyday things, eating, talking, and drinking. While this happens, the narrator’s ideas of the blind are challenged little by…
"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." This statement is said by the narrator of the story at the end of the story, where at this point you finally come to the realization of what the true meaning or theme is behind the story. Cathedral, by Raymond Carver, shows that you do not have to see someone or something in order to appreciate them for who or what they are. It is about a husband, the narrator, and his wife who live in a house. The wife, whose name they do not mention, has a very close friend who is blind. His name is Nick. Nick's wife dies, and comes to their house to spend a couple of days with the narrator and his wife. The narrator, whose name they do not mention as well, is always on edge because he does not really know Nick very well and he does not like blind people, but he is being friendly for his wife's sake. The story comes to an end, when Nick and the narrator draw a Cathedral together using the narrator's hand and helped by Nick. This story does follow typical dramatic development, which helps develop the theme perfectly. In the beginning of the story Carver, the author, gives you an idea of what type of characters you are working with. He then forms the rising action with conversation among the three characters. The climax is when the blind man, Nick, and the narrator begin to draw the Cathedral, which leads up to the resolution of how the narrator becomes changed and learns a valuable lesson, which is the overall theme of the story.…
In the story "Cathedral", by Raymond Carver, the narrator is conflicted with issues of inner-demons that are manifested in a blind man whom he perceives as a danger to his marriage. The narrator in this story is a good example of an anti-hero showing negative characteristics while never actually being a bad guy. This gives the idea that he is very humanistic character. That being said, he is a flawed character who is just trying to please his wife while not giving up what he wants. In the end he realizes that he can have both revealing a very enlighten experience. Over the entire story the narrator is confronted with different moments that gradually alters his perspective and changes him for the better.…
Can a blind person see better than a person with sight? In the short story, “Cathedral”, by Raymond Carver, its inferred that blind people truly can visualize the world, not physically, but in a more remarkable way than others. To help develop this theme of blind people being able to see, and those who can see are blind, Raymond Carver uses different rhetorical devices such as simple diction and irony. The narrator of the story lacks deep thought on different subjects; however, as for the blind man he puts in extra thought into life. Although he cannot see, Robert has honed his senses to have a knack to interrupt each situation as it arises. Never the less, the relationship between the two main characters sets up an interesting story that gives the audience opposing views on life.…
Blindness can manifest itself in many ways. Arguably the most detrimental form of this condition may be the figurative blindness of ones own situations and ignorance towards the feelings of others. In Raymond Carver 's short story "Cathedral," the narrator 's emotional and psychological blindness is immediately apparent. The many issues faced by the narrator as well as the turn-around experienced at the culmination of the tale are the main ideas for the theme of this story; and these ideas aid the narrator in eventually succumbing to character transformation by simply regarding the literal blind man in a positive light.…
At the center of "Cathedral" is a significant irony: a narrator who ignorantly disdains blindness while being oblivious to his own limitations in sight. Of course, the narrator can see with his eyes but does not realize the limitations he has placed on himself, and how those prevent him from seeing or wanting anything greater in life. The story is ultimately about transcendence; that is, an existence beyond the limitations of physical things. What Robert has that the narrator lacks is a sight into the wonder of things, the potential for greatness and tenderness in humanity, and the curiosity that can make one truly alive and free even if one is limited by physical factors.…
The narrator has all that he needs in his life. He seems to be comfortable with money as he spends money on marijuana and lots of fancy alcohol. He takes for granted the fact that he has a wife that cares for him, and the fact he has the ability to actually see. One thing about the narrator is that he is very judgmental. The reason Robert was coming to visit was because his wife had passed away and was visiting her relatives. His wife’s name was Beulah. The narrator hears that name and the first he asks is if she is black. He didn’t listen to anything about her or anything else, and just assumed she was black. Before he even meets the blind man he has already made his assessment of what he thinks of him. The narrator says “He was no one I knew. And his being blind bothered me…. A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to.” (Carver 32). The husband does not refer Robert by his name, but rather “the blind man”. At the very beginning he didn’t want Robert to come to the house period because of the negative stereotypes associated blind people. Such as they…
In Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” a blind man (Robert) opens the eyes of the narrator that is blinded by ignorance. In the beginning of the story the narrator points out numerous faults of the other characters. This would lead the reader to believe that the narrator has it all together. It is soon discovered that behind the narrator’s ignorant accusations there is a plethora of blindness, ignorance, and jealousy. Robert is really the most capable person in this story even though he is portrayed as a poor disabled wretch when the narrator says “I’d always thought dark glasses were a must for the blind" or "I didn’t want to be left alone with a Blind man" (Carver, 6, 8). As the story progresses the narrator 's wife invites Robert into their home. This is at first extremely uncomfortable for her husband (the narrator) but later results in his healing from ignorance and jealousy.…
In the short story, “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, it all began when the narrators wife invites her blind friend over to visit her and her husband. The husband has normal vision, but in the beginning of the story, he is the one who is “blind.” For example, he is close minded and stereotypical about this blind man arriving to their home. The husband's words and actions when dealing with Robert is that the husband is uncomfortable, awkward, and mean. As the story progresses, we can see as change in the husband, and he seems to be able to see Robert as a person and not just as a stereotypical blind man.…
Gothic architecture was developed from a Christian perspective, and therefore attained its most meaningful expression in churches. Clerics began to demand taller churches with more windows than had been present in the dark, but sturdy Romanesque churches. This desire was derived from new intellectual and spiritual concepts that took a more rational view of God, and saw God encompassed many things, such as light, reason and proportion. The Gothic church displayed a visual attempt to leave behind the mysterious world of the Romanesque, and create a setting that was drawn toward light and purity that could be an image of heaven. The middle class also had a great influence on the Gothic style as they desired churches that could reflect their economic power and social status.…