Cathdral
Cathedral by Raymond Carver Study Guide
The narrator of Carver's "Cathedral" has an epiphany when he meets a blind friend of his wife. * Photo of Cathedral (Morguefile.com)
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Published in 1983, Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral” explores the theme of ignorance through the first person narrator’s journey from insecurity to openness. The narrator begins as close-minded and fearful of what he does not understand; as the story progresses, he begins to have his eyes opened, ironically with the help of a blind man.
“Cathedral” Plot Summary
The story’s narrator informs the readers that a friend of his wife’s, a man who happens to be blind, is on his way to visit. The narrator is not enthusiastic about the visit because blind people make the narrator uncomfortable, mainly because the narrator has no real experience with the blind.
In addition to his uneasiness with the blind, the narrator is uncomfortable with his wife’s relationship with the blind man. The wife and Robert, the blind man, have maintained a close relationship via tape recordings mailed back and forth, and the narrator finds this unsettling. Despite the narrator’s feelings about the visit, Robert shows up, and the three of them dine together, and Robert and the narrator get to know each other.
Characters
The Narrator: The unnamed narrator of the story is insecure, close-minded, and lacks communication skills at the beginning of the story. As Robert urges the narrator to open up to discussion, the narrator begins to exit his comfort zone of nonchalant detachment to forging a real connection with Robert, thus causing the narrator to rethink not only his prejudice toward the blind, but his outlook on communication and personal connection overall.
Robert: Robert,
The narrator of Carver's "Cathedral" has an epiphany when he meets a blind friend of his wife. * Photo of Cathedral (Morguefile.com)
Recommendations
What Does Auld Lang Syne mean?
33 people recommend this.
Oscar Wilde's To My Wife
2 people recommend this.
The Fairy Doors of Ann Arbor, Michigan
75 people recommend this.
Facebook social plugin
Published in 1983, Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral” explores the theme of ignorance through the first person narrator’s journey from insecurity to openness. The narrator begins as close-minded and fearful of what he does not understand; as the story progresses, he begins to have his eyes opened, ironically with the help of a blind man.
“Cathedral” Plot Summary
The story’s narrator informs the readers that a friend of his wife’s, a man who happens to be blind, is on his way to visit. The narrator is not enthusiastic about the visit because blind people make the narrator uncomfortable, mainly because the narrator has no real experience with the blind.
In addition to his uneasiness with the blind, the narrator is uncomfortable with his wife’s relationship with the blind man. The wife and Robert, the blind man, have maintained a close relationship via tape recordings mailed back and forth, and the narrator finds this unsettling. Despite the narrator’s feelings about the visit, Robert shows up, and the three of them dine together, and Robert and the narrator get to know each other.
Characters
The Narrator: The unnamed narrator of the story is insecure, close-minded, and lacks communication skills at the beginning of the story. As Robert urges the narrator to open up to discussion, the narrator begins to exit his comfort zone of nonchalant detachment to forging a real connection with Robert, thus causing the narrator to rethink not only his prejudice toward the blind, but his outlook on communication and personal connection overall.
Robert: Robert,