The Stone Carvers

Raymond’s Carver is an American writer that wrote the short story, “Cathedral,” that uses a first person point of view narration in which the narrator fundamentally transforms and is enlightened with a self-realization. The story transitions in a change in the tone of the narrator as being sarcastic, judgmental, and insulting in which he experiences an epiphany and has a brighter perception. The story begins with the feeling of apprehension of the gathering of his wife’s friend Robert who is…

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…

the way he sees things, because of what he watches or reads about them. When the narrator turns on the television, he apologizes but Robert pays him no mind, “Whatever you want to watch is okay. I’m always learning something. Learning never ends.” (Carver 39.). This immediately shows a difference between the narrator and Robert, and ultimately switches and brings the two together. As stated before, when faced with the task of verbally explaining the cathedral to Robert, the narrator is only able…

can see, but because they are blind they realize or “see” things that others do not. The narrator thinks this way about the blind man, Robert, through most of the story. Carver uses the narrator’s point of view, imagery, and tone to show the reader how the narrator is “the blind leading the blind.” One of the big things Carver uses to show that the narrator is “the blind leading the blind” is writing the story from the narrator’s point of view. At the beginning of the story the narrator talks…

Character Analysis (Cathedral) The “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver. The unnamed narrator who is also the husband undergoes an emotional change throughout the story. The narrator's wife used to work for a blind man called Robert whose wife sadly died of cancer, and he is coming to visit the narrator and his wife, but the narrator is not happy about the visit. All because in his shallow mind, he thinks blind people are dirty and miserable. Sadly, enough he got this feeling from what he has seen…

Raymond Carvers “Cathedral” is about social isolation and ignorance. Through the narrator’s personality, his relationship with other people and the resolution of story’s central conflict, the story raises an important commentary on the need for human interaction. “cathedral” suggests inability to understand human interaction and relationship causes an insecure and ignorant personality however, creativity acts as a healing factor to obtain a sense of life. Narrator holds a stereotypical mind set…

The short story “Cathedral,” written by Raymond Carver, is about a nameless narrator and his wife who welcome her blind friend Robert to their home shortly after his wife passes away. The relationship between Robert and the narrator progresses during Robert’s stay as they get to know one another better. The story embodies one of the main theme that is discussed in class: “life passages.” The concept of “life passages” involves adversities, events, and successes that contribute to how individuals…

At the turn of the century, women’s roles in the United States were very different than today. Back then in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, women had one role, which was getting married and having children. Women were basically slaves, they lived in a home with their husband and children, and were expected to raise their children and do whatever their husbands desired. After getting married, women would give up many of their rights. They were not allowed to own property, keep their own wages,…

Festival in California on December 6, 1969. Many thought it would be the next Woodstock and in some ways it was. Approximately 300,000 fans attended and there were many acts scheduled such as Jefferson Airplane, Santana, and CSNY, with the Rolling Stones as the final act. Grateful Dead was scheduled to play, but cancelled just prior to stage time because of the increasing violence at the concert. Besides 18-year-old Meredith Hunter who suffered fatal stab wounds during the concert (reportedly…

Lucy Stone (1818-1893) was a prominent nineteenth century American woman 's rights advocate, suffragette, and abolitionist who frequently gave public lectures, wrote articles, and edited publications to support such causes. Throughout her career she conservatively campaigned for women 's equality and civil rights arguing that individuals must define themselves, their work, and influence on their own accounts rather than being prejudged on the basis of race or gender. A respected orator, Stone…