Cathedral Figurative Language Essay

Theme and figurative language have been used by almost all writers throughout time to develop their ideas and stories. Fiction, nonfiction stories and anecdotes all could contain themes and figurative languages. In Raymond Carver’s short story, “Cathedral,” readers follow the narrator as he and his wife bring in an old, blind man into their home. The narrator is introduced as aloof, insensitive, and rude. As the story continues, the narrator is introduced to his wife’s former boss and friend, the blind man. The short story progresses through and gives details regarding the relationship between him and his wife along with the blind man. Using figurative language, Carver introduces and guides the readers to the theme at the end of his story,

He writes the beginning of the story flatly, with little to no figurative language or descriptive words, using passive tone to describe things. Raymond Carver, “I can remember I didn't think much of the poem. Of course I didn't tell her that'' (Carver 3). This quote reveals the narrator’s tone and character in the beginning of the story as he reminisced of when he and his wife first began to see each other. He is portrayed as arrogant, informal, and flat. However, as the story progresses with the narrator and his wife, the narrator is seen changing his tone when the blind man appears and is introduced. The narrator’s tone changes as the blind man enters his life, “How could I even begin to describe it? But say my life depended on it. Say my life was being threatened by an insane guy who said I had to do it or else” (Carver 82). The narrator’s tone changes into a hysterical and urgent. He uses a metaphor to describe his urgency and his feelings from the blind

Carver writes, “You’re cooking with gas now” (Carver 89). The blind man states this and makes this comment towards the narrator as the two sit and share a moment together, where the narrator attempts to draw what a Cathedral may look like. As the narrator gets more into drawing the Cathedral for the old man, the blind man is able to notice that the narrator is becoming more passionate and energetic with his strokes. At the end of the short story, “Cathedral,” by Carval, the narrator is seen sharing the final, ending moments of the story with the blind man. They are seen sharing these moments drawing the Cathedral and eyes closed. Carver, “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. But I didn't feel like I was inside anything” (Carvar 135). This shows how the relationship between the narrator and the blind man have changed throughout the story. They are both together now, the insensitive narrator has now connected with the blind man, closing his eyes and sharing the moment. The narrator has put his insensitive tone away and has begun to finally see the blind man for who he was, regardless of the man being blind. Thus, revealing the theme of the passage, relationships and acceptance with