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Raymond Carver Cathedral Essay

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In Raymond Carver's Cathedral, the author explores the transformative power of human connection and empathy. It is a central theme that I agree with deeply. He employs creative techniques that invite the reader to delve into the conversational dialogues and the characters profound experiences. This exploration prompts a thought-provoking examination of prejudice and the power of genuine connections. The narrative's strength lies in its character dialogues, creating a strong connection between the reader and the characters. For example, pondering the thought "I guess I'm just saying, life is weird, isn't it?" (Pg 87) It captures the essence of the story, encouraging the reader to reflect alongside the narrator. This type of dialogue enables the reader …show more content…

The minimalist style of Carver's writing, which can be seen as a strength for many readers, may also be seen as a weakness. The story's pacing may feel slow, as he takes his time to develop the characters and their connections. Through subtle gestures and nuanced expressions, Carver captures the complexity of human relationships and the transformative power of empathy. For example, when the narrator recounts holding hands with Robert to sketch a cathedral, he reflects, "I put in my hand. My hand met his. He was holding my hand. But I didn't feel that way, about anything" (Pg 98). This moment of physical connection transcends the limitations of language, fostering a profound sense of understanding and closeness between the two characters. The minimalistic approach, in the writing style may result in a lack of imagery compared to works, which could leave readers wanting more descriptive details. In my personal experience, the story provoked deep personal reflection on prejudices and connections. He said, "I wasn't enthusiastic about his visit." He was no one I knew. And his being blind bothered me" (Pg 88) it made me confront my own biases and preconceived

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Raymond Carver's texts work together to show that by accepting the help of others the characters are better able to understand their own needs and struggles. Americans are easily blinded by their comfortable middle class lives and need to be reminded what it means to have hardships through a new perspective. In "Cathedral", the husband

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He takes note of the simple things, like the awkward silence at dinner, where “we ate everything there was to eat on the table,” (Carver 45), and how they “got up from the table and left the dirty plates,” (Carver 45). Nothing too exciting happens, aside the narrator, when he “asked if he wanted to smoke some dope with me,” (Carver 55). Carver creates a very relatable story that mainly showcases ordinary people doing ordinary things. Although seeming to be anticlimactic for the majority of the story, these dull moments lead to a very important event. Robert and the narrator sit on the couch after the wife has fallen asleep, watching TV, when a documentary about cathedrals comes on.

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