Blindness

At the end of Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral”, The narrator and Robert sit down to draw a cathedral of their own. To us this may seem like nothing, but within the story, it’s has large significance. Throughout this story we are made to feel like the narrator is just a rude and judgmental kind of guy. At each twist and turn in the story he is always there to add a harsh comment, usually towards his wife’s blind friend. One specific time can be noticed during a conversation with his wife about the…

Acceptance is key, and, under no circumstances can you know what a person may hold for your future. The narrator in Raymond Carver's short story "Cathedral" was not very accepting of his wife contacting the blind man named Robert with the help of tapes. When he came to visit the couple, the narrator, known as "Bub," was shocked to find that the stereotypes of blind men, which he learned by watching movies, were all false. Carver made Bub to be blind, not physically, but to what communication can…

When a person has low vision or a visual impairment they often need a support network that is composed of their family and friends. Most people instinctively agree to support their loved ones, but they may not truly understand the level of support that might be required. The article, Family Functioning and Low Vision: a systematic review, by Jennifer K. Bambara examines the issues faced by individuals with low vision and the family members that choose to support them. People with low vision are…

Change can happen anywhere, in Cathedral change happens in one single night. It happened in the most beautiful and unexpected way so by the end of the tale, all characters will experience a dramatic change. When Narrator, at the beginning of the story when he learns that Robert is coming to visit, he gets jealous and angry. Even though he isn’t literally blind, he shows a lack of insight and self-awareness, in many ways, that make him blinder than Robert. He can see perfectly fine with his…

“What does a blind man want with a shotgun?” the clerk asks. “How is it any of your damn business?” I say tapping my white cane against the cold, glass display. Lemon-lime nacho chipped bad breath, oiled metal, and day old socks waft in the air. The crinkling of a tin can adds a dissonant overtone to the man’s gurgling belch. “What you gonna shoot?” “You going to sell me the thing or what?” I imagine a squishy face with French-fry pores lubricating double chins. “Of course. No law against a…

Glaucoma is a retinal disease that can lead to vision loss if it remains undetected and untreated. It usually occurs at the optic nerve head region due to the damage of ganglion cells. A study conducted by the Cataract Surgery Registry (CSR) from 2002 to 2012 on patients with pre-existing ocular co-morbidity showed that there has been an increase of around 119 number of patients from year 2011 to 2012 with 1976 and 2095 patients respectively (Mohamad Aziz Salowi & Goh, 2012). Although glaucoma…

nature is inherently monstrous. Chapter 22: “He’s Blind for a Reason, You Know” (201-206) 9. Within literary works, physical blindness typically signifies that the author means to draw a parallel between literal and figurative blindness and, in doing so, emphasize that sight is something beyond physicality. In the case of difference between literal and figurative blindness, the physically blind are unable to see the world but are able to see beyond it, while those who maintain the ability to…

In the fourth century B.C., a theorist of drama, named Aristotle, devised a definition for what he considered a tragic hero. He described a tragic hero as someone who was of noble statue, of good character, but possessed human-like flaws. Aristotle also stated that a tragic hero’s downfall was due to his or her own mistakes through free choice, not fate. The tragic hero was also described to have great misfortune that was not entirely deserved, ending in a fall, but not total destruction…

The standard American Dream is a house with a white picket fence, two kids, and a yard for the dog to play in. If you drive through any neighborhood, that is most likely what you will see; however, peeking through the curtained windows you may also see a few feline friends. Although cats are becoming more popular, dogs are still man’s best friend. Nobody will be more loyal, understanding, or affectionate than your dog. Cats may be right for some people, but nothing makes a rough day at work…

They cannot move, nor feel, nor hear. The only sense that someone has is sight, and even then it is limited. Those shadows of men, and the strange items they are carrying is the only movie they would ever witness, unless they realized that the restraints around their necks are paper. Something they can easily break out of. The only requirement to getting those paper restraints loose is to start thinking about their wishes. Do they want to learn, or do they want to sit for eternity and watch a…