The Theme Of Characterism In Carver's Cathedral By Raymond Carver

Cathedral Who is actually considered blind? A person who cannot physically see or a person who cannot see because of their ignorance? In Raymond Carver 's short story Cathedral, as any other good short story. We have our antihero who also comes along with our protagonist. In this case our antihero has no name, but goes by the title the narrator. Both of these main characters are proceeded differently. Robert the protagonist of the story embodies the characteristics of being a humble person who has a proactive side. Although he is blind, it doesn’t stop him from seeing the world as it is. He had also been a radio harmer and kept people 's spirits up during WW2. Robert also has a deceased wife. Meanwhile the narrator who is the antagonist of the short story has more of a narrow view on life, unlike Robert he lives miserably. He has a wife who loves him dearly and has a job. The disliking of the narrator’s job, the lack of having no friends, being judgmental are a result to him coming home every night isolating himself from …show more content…
In many scenarios the narrator wanted Robert to more inferior than him, because he felt Robert was different since he was blind making fun of him would be a little fun and easy, but that was not always case for his wife. The narrator states “A beard on a blind man! Too much, I say” (Carver 91-92). With this comment it makes the narrator look very judgmental and it also gives off a feeling of ignorance because he had previously said that he though blind people would not have beards since they are blind they would not be able to keep it clean. So, the narrator was shocked when he saw Robert for the first time. Being judgmental ties back to the who ideal of being that character who doesn’t care what people think, what they say, when they say it, how they want to say