Blindness In Raymond Carver's Cathedral

The Double Meaning on Blindness in “Cathedral” Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” presents some of the poet’s minimalist approaches in storytelling and language that focuses on middle class people facing consequences and small revelations in their ordinary lives. Carver makes sure that his concept on blindness plays a crucial role in his short story’s characters and give a sense of optimism and awareness to the reader. People who are blind don’t seem to see the environment around them, but they’re capable of visualizing whatever surrounds them. Just because a person is born blind or considered blind doesn’t mean they are limited to certain activities. It creates this absolute uncertainty for the narrator trying to connect with Robert, a blind man …show more content…
He is delusional to comprehend that Robert couldn't physically see Beulah despite how much they’ve done for each other, assuming that “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”(1497). According to the narrator, seeing one’s appearance brings warmth and compassion in an relationship. He reflects from Beulah’s perspective that she could never see herself just as Robert saw her, and due to her husband’s blindness, she receives no comment about her beauty. Robert’s relationship with Beulah is also an observation to the narrator’s lack of trust with his wife: “a woman could go on day after day and never receive the smallest compliment from her beloved”(1497). He failed to benefit his wife with anything that comes to mind since the wife reunited with Robert. In fact, the narrator couldn’t see his relationship flourish with Robert in the middle, creating this barrier between men that are opposite to each other’s …show more content…
He thinks of cathedrals as these sacred sanctuaries made of stone or marble that people seek for prayer and faith: “In those olden days, when they built cathedrals, men wanted to be close to God. In those olden days, God was an important part of everyday’s life”(1504). Carver conveys the passage that all men who created the cathedrals hope to provide comfort to those less fortunate, including the blind. The connection between spiritual blindness and God is actually mentioned in the Bible. In the passage, Jesus tells a blind man to wash his eyes with mud and clean them near the pools of Siloam. The man did so and he got back his sight, informing his parents of the miracle. The Jews, however, ridicule the man for his belief in God and kicked him out of the temple. Jesus informs the Jews and Pharisees with moral advice: “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind” (American Standard Version, John 9:39). Like the Jews and Pharisees that did not believe in the blind man’s revelation, the narrator dismisses his participation in guiding Robert with whatever he wants to