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When we begin this story, Carver uses the inner dialogue of “Bub,” the narrator, to allow the reader some insight into Bub’s character and his vast ignorance of the world outside of his home. Preceding a visit from his wife’s blind friend, Robert, the narrator makes many brash comments that give a sense of his lack of acquaintance with visually disabled people. Bub admits, “And his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed…A blind man in my home was not something I looked forward to.” Although this portrayal of the blind was more stereotypical than accurate, this is all that Bub has witnessed in regards to blindness. Bub uses this depiction as a grounds on which to base his opinion; consequently, he develops
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At last, Bub and Robert are left alone. After some initial awkwardness, the men begin to discuss the television. Bub notices Robert leaning his ear towards the television, listening to the newscaster. This is the moment when some of the most important changes occur in Bub. Bub clumsily describes the pictures on the screen in an attempt to communicate with Robert so that Robert may “see” them too. 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. As he illustrates the monument, eyes closed, Robert follows along with his hand on Bub’s hand. This unfamiliar intimacy draws Bub to a moment of epiphany wherein he begins to understand and overcome the limitations he had placed on himself through seclusion and misconceptions. This final development is the most consequential for Bub. “My eyes were still closed,” Bub says, “I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything.” Bub had broken through the barricades of his own
At last, Bub and Robert are left alone. After some initial awkwardness, the men begin to discuss the television. Bub notices Robert leaning his ear towards the television, listening to the newscaster. This is the moment when some of the most important changes occur in Bub. Bub clumsily describes the pictures on the screen in an attempt to communicate with Robert so that Robert may “see” them too. 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. As he illustrates the monument, eyes closed, Robert follows along with his hand on Bub’s hand. This unfamiliar intimacy draws Bub to a moment of epiphany wherein he begins to understand and overcome the limitations he had placed on himself through seclusion and misconceptions. This final development is the most consequential for Bub. “My eyes were still closed,” Bub says, “I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything.” Bub had broken through the barricades of his own