Real Blind Man In Raymond Carver's Cathedral

Who is the Real Blind Man? In the story Cathedral, by Raymond Carver, the narrator makes multiple statements as to how he feels about Robert, the blind man. The statements are made purely on what the narrator has seen in movies and what he has read. The narrator makes harsh judgments of the blind mind regarding his inability to see his surroundings and other people. However, the narrator fails to see things the same way that Robert does, more deeply. Throughout the story the narrator finds himself beginning to understand the blind man’s condition in that he can see more than he anticipates. The narrator, or ‘Bub’ as the blind man calls him, goes through a drastic change of character throughout the time of getting to know Robert. After talking and having a few drinks with Robert and getting to know him a little better, Bub begins to see things as the blind man does and shines some light on a whole new perspective of being able to see. During the beginning of the story, Bub describes how he views bling people by saying, “My idea of blindness came
Bub listened to the weather and sports channels with Robert and then offered him another drink and some cannabis, showing that his comfort was growing knowing that this sort of recreation was normally shared by close friends. When Bub’s wife came back downstairs, she was even angrier with Bub until she saw that Robert was enjoying himself and realizing how she didn’t know as much as she thought about him, either. When Bub’s wife had fallen asleep on the couch, waiting for Robert to be ready to go to bed so that she could help him upstairs, Bub showed he was also more comfortable with the blind man and his condition by realizing that he need not cover his Wife’s exposed thigh; he could sit in his house and enjoy himself comfortably while also, for once, having company to smoke and socialize