In the short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver the cathedral that the narrator draws with Robert, the blind man, represents true sight and the ability to see beyond the surface of things in order to see the true meaning that lies within. In the beginning, the narrator can see with his eyes well, but he has trouble understanding people’s thoughts and feelings. The narrator is even unable to understand the person who is supposed to be closes to him, his own wife, and is therefore unable to accept her for who she truly is. “I can remember I didn’t think much of the poem. Of course, I didn’t tell her that. Maybe I just don’t understand poetry.” By drawing the cathedral with Robert, he is able to open up his mind’s eye and grow as a person.
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“I stared hard at the shot of the cathedral on the TV. How could I even begin to describe it? But say my life depended on it. Say my life was being threatened by an insane guy who said I had to do it or else.” This quote appears close to the end of the story when Robert asks the narrator to describe the cathedral that is on TV. The narrator has just described a parade in Spain where people dress as a devils and skeletons but he has no idea how to describe a cathedral. He does not have the words to describe what he is seeing so in a way he is blind himself. Even if his life depended on it, he could not describe a cathedral to a blind man. The narrator claimed that he does not really understand the cathedral and it means nothing to him which is why he cannot describe it. Only by drawing the cathedral with his eyes closed can the narrator bridge the gap between seeing and …show more content…
His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now. Then he said, 'I think that's it. I think you got it,' he said. 'Take a look. What do you think?' But I had my eyes closed. I thought I'd keep them that way for a little longer. I thought it was something I ought to do. 'Well?' he said. 'Are you looking?' 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." In this quote the narrator has an epiphany as he reconsiders the true meaning of sight. He leaves his eyes closed but for the first time he is able to see things for what they truly are. He realizes that he was trapped in his life and his house and by no longer looking at the life that surrounds him he is able to see the world in a greater way. By closing his eyes and seeing, not just looking, the narrator is able to understand and come to peace with the
“I stared hard at the shot of the cathedral on the TV. How could I even begin to describe it? But say my life depended on it. Say my life was being threatened by an insane guy who said I had to do it or else.” This quote appears close to the end of the story when Robert asks the narrator to describe the cathedral that is on TV. The narrator has just described a parade in Spain where people dress as a devils and skeletons but he has no idea how to describe a cathedral. He does not have the words to describe what he is seeing so in a way he is blind himself. Even if his life depended on it, he could not describe a cathedral to a blind man. The narrator claimed that he does not really understand the cathedral and it means nothing to him which is why he cannot describe it. Only by drawing the cathedral with his eyes closed can the narrator bridge the gap between seeing and …show more content…
His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now. Then he said, 'I think that's it. I think you got it,' he said. 'Take a look. What do you think?' But I had my eyes closed. I thought I'd keep them that way for a little longer. I thought it was something I ought to do. 'Well?' he said. 'Are you looking?' 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." In this quote the narrator has an epiphany as he reconsiders the true meaning of sight. He leaves his eyes closed but for the first time he is able to see things for what they truly are. He realizes that he was trapped in his life and his house and by no longer looking at the life that surrounds him he is able to see the world in a greater way. By closing his eyes and seeing, not just looking, the narrator is able to understand and come to peace with the