Those incapable of sight are often considered to be limited, less fortunate and lost. Raymond Carver’s short story, “Cathedral”, explains the wonders behind those who are blind and how they see more than anyone with sight. A blind man by the name of Robert strives to open the mind of a very arrogant, detached man that does not see what the world truly is. The narrator, given the nickname Bub, and Robert symbolize two parts of society and represent different ways of thinking. The cathedral used in this story is very significant and creates drastic change for the man of sight. Using what is considered a disability, Robert can transform and open the mind of a naïve man. Being blind has only given him more wisdom, because he must look deep within
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Bub being so different than him, could do that for the blind man. Throughout the story, most of the characters were drinking and eventually smoking marijuana. At this point, Robert felt alive and carefree again. For the first time in a long time he began to open up and enjoy a real conversation without any restraints. Although the narrator came off as a bit of a jerk, readers can tell that he does hold compassion and love, especially for his wife. He was misguided and blind to the world which is why Robert was exactly the person he needed to become involved with. The man loved his wife and appreciated her considering he only talked highly of her, but their relationship did have problems as most do. Bub was filled with a lot of jealousy especially when it came to Robert. This is understandable considering Robert wrote a poem and sent recordings to his wife. The narrator showed from the beginning that he had negative feelings towards his wife’s old friend, but it slowly began to change. After a few drinks and the drawing of a cathedral, the tension between them eased and a strong bond started to …show more content…
When watching a show on television, it began to talk about cathedrals, which Robert was incapable of picturing. Robert then asked the narrator to describe them to him, but he had a lack of words because he found it hard to talk about something that had little meaning to him. Following that, Robert asked him to hold onto his hand with his eyes shut while he drew an image of a cathedral. This way they both could truly feel the image without seeing it. With his eyes closed and his focus only on the drawing, the man started to feel something he had never experienced before. “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But it didn’t feel like I was inside anything. ‘It’s really something’ I said.” During this part of the story, the narrator experienced an alternate way of looking at something ordinary like a cathedral, but also how he looked at life. Although it is unclear whether that moment had a long-lasting effect on Bub or not, there was a distinct change in him that night. He will likely go about his days in the same way, and carry on at the job he does not love, but now he will look at his life with a new outlook and hopefully with more
Bub being so different than him, could do that for the blind man. Throughout the story, most of the characters were drinking and eventually smoking marijuana. At this point, Robert felt alive and carefree again. For the first time in a long time he began to open up and enjoy a real conversation without any restraints. Although the narrator came off as a bit of a jerk, readers can tell that he does hold compassion and love, especially for his wife. He was misguided and blind to the world which is why Robert was exactly the person he needed to become involved with. The man loved his wife and appreciated her considering he only talked highly of her, but their relationship did have problems as most do. Bub was filled with a lot of jealousy especially when it came to Robert. This is understandable considering Robert wrote a poem and sent recordings to his wife. The narrator showed from the beginning that he had negative feelings towards his wife’s old friend, but it slowly began to change. After a few drinks and the drawing of a cathedral, the tension between them eased and a strong bond started to …show more content…
When watching a show on television, it began to talk about cathedrals, which Robert was incapable of picturing. Robert then asked the narrator to describe them to him, but he had a lack of words because he found it hard to talk about something that had little meaning to him. Following that, Robert asked him to hold onto his hand with his eyes shut while he drew an image of a cathedral. This way they both could truly feel the image without seeing it. With his eyes closed and his focus only on the drawing, the man started to feel something he had never experienced before. “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But it didn’t feel like I was inside anything. ‘It’s really something’ I said.” During this part of the story, the narrator experienced an alternate way of looking at something ordinary like a cathedral, but also how he looked at life. Although it is unclear whether that moment had a long-lasting effect on Bub or not, there was a distinct change in him that night. He will likely go about his days in the same way, and carry on at the job he does not love, but now he will look at his life with a new outlook and hopefully with more