Raymond Carver's Cathedral

Raymond Carver "Cathedral" short story is narrated by a man whose wife has invited an old friend to visit their home. The old friend, Robert, is blind, which the narrator identifies as Robert's defining characteristic. The story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed man. As the story unfolds, the narrator is troubled by the upcoming visit for reasons he can't explain, though he credits it to Robert's disability. It seems to be many themes in this short story; there is the theme of jealousy, insecurity, isolation, and religion connection. At first glimpse, it appears that religion is the central theme but, there is an even more important theme, blindness, the dominant topic in this story, and it serves multiple symbolic functions. It

But he narrates what he knows and feels, he also afraid about his wife connection to the blind man. The narrator also shows that he has a difficult time understanding the difference between sight and understanding. The author uses different patterns when he writes, one that it's fascinating is the narrator almost never mention the names of Robert, for example in the line “This blind man, an old friend of my wife’s, he was on his way to spend the night” (p.86). The narrator calls him ‘The Blind Man’ as if he did not know his name, but he did. The narrator also feels the need to point out the man’s blindness extensively. This is the narrator’s way of putting down Robert and makes him feels a better or superior man. As readers, it is already established that Robert is blind, but in every action that he performs, the narrator continues to put down Robert because of his condition, as if it is the only thing that defines

He is sarcastic and self-centered, though it can be humorous as well. When the blind man gets there, they drink alcohol (a good scotch), they eat dinner and go to the sofa to watch television. The blind man started to call the narrator, “bub,” which strengthens what we have come to learn about the narrator’s personality. After dinner, the narrator takes out a couple of joints, and both started to smoke, and both get stoned. Later, the wife sits on the couch between the men and joins them to smoke cannabis and falls asleep then. The narrator kept changing the television channels and starts to watch a documentary about cathedrals. Throughout the show, the voice over pauses and the camera show these grand cathedrals and temples, displaying their