Raymond Carver's Cathedral

From Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral,” the feelings conveyed by the narrator, his wife and Robert, gave an interesting impression towards the theme of the story. The narrator’s actions towards Robert flowed from beginning to end leading to the narrator’s realization of his newfound feelings of what Robert, as a blind man, had been going through. His blindness and loss didn’t hinder his way of life, yet allowed him to teach the narrator something important. Robert’s visit and stay at the narrator’s home with him and his wife, lead to the narrator achieving this realization. Even though the narrator’s feelings towards Robert were initially negative, Robert’s guidance helps the narrator see himself from another person’s point of view. Prior to Robert’s …show more content…
42) The mental image of the wife could express how she feels around Robert. However, it could mean that the wife is doing this purposefully due to Robert being blind or that she is expressing a more vulgar side of herself. Later on, Robert asks the narrator to detail the cathedral that was shown on a documentary. And although the narrator can’t detail the entire scene, Robert offers an idea to help. “With Robert’s encouragement, the narrator is able to let go of his inhibitions and collaborate in an expressive vision.” (Saltzman) Which in turn, help the narrator see what has himself has become. The narrator had seen with his closed eyes a portion of what Robert has experienced his whole life. A vision of reality to what the narrator was blind to or rather yet, what he can’t see. Towards the end of the story, the narrator kept his eyes closed. Even though Robert instructed for him to open and see what both of them drew. The narrator in this situation could be imagining himself inside a cathedral and recollecting what his life meant. He sees himself insignificant while encapsulated by a massive cathedral towering over