Dynamic And Dynamic Character In Cathedral

Superior Essays
A story that includes a description of a character’s turmoil may cause readers to relate to the character’s emotions, whereas a story that is told from the external point of view might not produce the same empathy in readers. In the same way, how character is portrayed influences a story as well. There are different types of characters in literature; the main characters in “Cathedral” are complex, dynamic, and static. A complex character is one whose personality is described in detail. Moreover, the difference between dynamic and static characters lies in the fact that a dynamic character changes throughout the story, while a static character stays the same. Dynamic/complex characters are often the protagonists in narrations because the author …show more content…
The narrator was a complex and dynamic character. This character was not given a name nor described, but the readers got to know him by his thoughts about others or about a situation. At the beginning, we saw that he had an antipathetic attitude towards Robert, his wife´s blind friend, for he stated, “I wasn´t enthusiastic about his visit. He was no one I knew. And his being blind bothered me.” Then, while the visitor and the narrator´s wife talked, the narrator did not get involved much in the conversation; however, he joined in from time to time. Later, when his wife fell asleep, he was forced to interact with Robert. These two started watching TV together, and while doing so, Robert asked the narrator if he could describe for him how a cathedral looks like. Even though the narrator was not sure about how to describe it, he tried, and eventually he failed the task. Robert asked him to make a drawing of it while he placed his hand over the narrators, who accepted it. After drawing the cathedral, the narrator had a moment of epiphany. He realized then, that one cannot only see through one´s eyes, but also with one´s soul. This can be seen as he stated: “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But it didn´t feel like I was inside anything.” Now his mind opened and he became no more limited by what he could see through his natural …show more content…
His personality was known by his actions. It was implied that Robert was also a good listener since he liked to listen to audiotapes that the narrator´s wife sent him. Also, Robert seemed like a man with no limitations, even though he was blind. Though living a visionless life, Robert managed to balance his life with his overly developed senses. He “saw” with his mind and soul, not with his eyes. This became evident when Robert stated, “I´ve had a really nice time. This beats tapes doesn´t it?.” Sightless Robert was able to discern the tapes from human interaction, since he was able to feel people’s presence. Additionally, Robert displayed different traits as he interacted with each of the other characters. The narrator´s wife thought she knew Robert, but when she found him smoking marihuana with her husband, she was surprised. From this, we then see that Robert was a round character.
Furthermore the blind man and the wife were also examples of static characters, as they remained the same. Though the narrator´s wife and Robert kept in touch during all those years, the narrator said that when this man visited “[his wife and the man] talked of things that had happened to them… these past ten years.” Then, we can see that these two characters did not

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver is told from the point-of-view of the narrator. Speaking in first person, the narrator describes a particular night in which he meets Robert, a blind friend of the narrator’s wife. Because the story is written in the first person, the reader is able to see what the narrator is thinking as well as speaking. Furthermore, because of the point-of-view and the brutal honesty of the narrator, the reader is given a chance to connect with the narrator and follow him through his personal transformation from the beginning of the story until the end.…

    • 1312 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In the stories, “Hills Like White Elephants” and “Cathedral”, both main characters go through life changing events; however, only one evolves and becomes a more desirable human. The American, in “Hills Like White Elephants”, displays an egocentric personality, devoid of any character development. Although the Narrator in “Cathedral” shows little to no empathy in the beginning of the story, his mind is opened to new perspectives by the conclusion. Both stories show human personality flaws and weaknesses during times of stress, it is how they respond to these life situations which determines how they are viewed by humanity.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Raymond Carver 's short story, "Cathedral", the narrator goes through a major personal transformation. At the beginning of the story, the narrator who lacks insight and awareness things around him. The struggles and failures he faces limit his social life which leads him to isolated from society. His wife 's blind friend Robert, pulls him out of his comfort zone which allows his attitude and outlook on life start to changes. The narrator in Raymond Carver 's "Cathedral" develops from being a blind to anyone else but himself and his own perspective to able to open his eyes to see life through difference perspective because of the help of blind man.…

    • 1012 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    As the story develops, one thing becomes certain that the narrator was blinded and needed to be guided in drawing of the cathedral by Robert, the blind man. Symbolism The author of the story of the Cathedral employs symbolism to bring out the theme of blindness. In the story, the narrator is required to give a…

    • 1298 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The Narrator’s wife starts to feel tired and leaves to rest, leaving the Narrator and Robert alone. Later, she returns but falls asleep on the couch. Before long, they start to watch television and continue to interact awkwardly, but evidently something was changing in him, he starts describing to Robert, what’s on the television, a sign of tenderness and compassion. Eventually, starts describing a Cathedral to the blind man, but although he is able to see the Cathedral, finds it enormously challenging to describe it and discourages. Robert proposes him, to draw the Cathedral instead, and the Narrator finds a paper-bag to draw it.…

    • 1630 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This is until he meets Robert. Robert is the complete opposite of the narrator.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The character in a story is the main foundation in any story, essay, or any other form of writing. These characters not only give the writing a purpose, but present the irony, symbols, and conflicts in the stories. Without the main character there would not be any sort of writing. The main character may also be dynamic, which means the change as the story goes on, or they may be flat, which meants that they don’t change. From the many stories we read in our class, I fell in love with the character Rochelle, from the story “The Bride” by author Christine Granados.…

    • 989 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Summary Of Raymond Carver's Cathedral

    • 1416 Words
    • 6 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited

    He asked the narrator to get a pen and paper, and the two drew the cathedral together. At first, the narrator draws with his eyes open, trying to form the best picture for Robert. Robert then asks the narrator to close his eyes while he is drawing. The narrator describes this by saying, “it was like nothing else in my life up to now” (46). When they finish, Robert asks the narrator to describe how the pictures look when he opens his eyes again.…

    • 1416 Words
    • 6 Pages
    • 1 Works Cited
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Through the juxtaposing characterization of the husband and the blind man, Carver establishes the opposing views on emotional relationships. The husband’s narcissistic personality enables him to view his wife as an object, while the blind man, Robert, treats her as a friend and a confidant, highlighting the difference between looking and seeing. The narrator’s…

    • 1099 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As he describes the scenario he imagines about a crazy man forcing him to describe a cathedral which shows the reader how he is silly and comical, but reflects his sense of panic. When the narrator is not successful of describing a cathedral, the blind man asks the narrator to help draw. They begin by having the blind man hold the narrator 's hand as he draws a cathedral on a paper bag. The blind man advices the narrator to close his eyes and draw.…

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A major theme in short stories is isolation. In “Lusus Naturae” by Margaret Atwood and “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison illustrates the theme of physical isolation. Robert Carver shows the narrators isolation is self-inflected in the story “Cathedral”. Self-inflected isolation is also displayed in “Lusus Naturae”.…

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After the preliminary awkwardness of being alone with this man who he does not know, Bub has a moment of compassion when he tries to describe what scenery is occurring on the television to Robert. Despite his brief attempt at good will, he is dumbfounded when he realizes he cannot describe a cathedral to Robert; even though Bub can see the physical appearance of the Roman-Catholic monument, he cannot see its deeper significance and is thus unable to describe it to Robert. Robert requests Bub to draw the cathedral with his eyes closed while Roberts’ hands ride on his own, during this event between the two men, Robert experiences his epiphany in which he can see even more than he could with his eyes open. Even after he is done drawing Bub decides to keep his eyes closed, “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house.…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Awkwardly, they end up watching a television about cathedral. Robert asks the protagonist to describe a cathedral so he can visualize it, but the protagonist is not able to do so. To solve the problem, Robert comes up with the idea of them drawing it together. The blind man then asks the main character to close his eyes. The main character reluctantly agrees to both.…

    • 1108 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Strong, intricate characters are the very basis of every successful story or novel. It’s no wonder that the authors of these stories create powerful characters that evolve as the reader progresses through the story. For these reasons, characterization plays a tremendous role in not only the development of the story, but also the continued interest of the reader. As the readers, in order to achieve the full effect of characterization, we must pay close attention to the detail the author reveals about his or her characters in the way he or she presents them. We often miss the hidden meanings that these characters possess, which is why it’s crucial to dive deep into the character’s personalities and behaviors.…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Unfortunately Bub’s attempt at reaching out is inadequate. He notices by Robert’s facial expression that Robert does not comprehend what he is saying. This small realization in itself is a monumental development for Bub, a man who had not noticed his own wife’s facial expressions in the nearly ten years they had been together. When Bub’s attempts at verbalizing the picture of the cathedral fail, Robert suggests that the men draw their own cathedral. Bub submits and gathers the materials.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays