Who Is Victor In Cathedral

Through awareness, we create change, and sometimes it takes an unforeseeable encounter with a peculiar individual, to ignite our awareness, and educate our perception. It’s up to us to accept the awareness and allow the change or to be aware and avoid the change. The Narrator in “Cathedral”, by Raymond Carver, experiences awareness through Robert, the blind man. Similarly, Victor in “This is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona”, by Sherman Alexie, finds realization, through the company of Thomas, a childhood friend. However, the circumstances that promote change in both characters, and what they do with their awareness differs. Robert is an erstwhile acquaintance of the Narrator’s wife. He recently lost his wife and is staying for

Although the narrator knows of his wife appreciation for Robert, he doesn’t sympathize with it, now shows respect for it. Similarly, Victor isn't too thrilled about spending time with Thomas. He perceives Thomas, as someone disliked by most and doesn't desire to be his friend. Thomas and Victor are part of the same Indian tribe and used to be childhood friends, but grew apart. Victor is going through a challenging time, his father passed away, and he wants to go to Phoenix, to collect his ashes and savings, but he is unemployed and doesn’t have sufficient money to go. The Tribal Council contributes with a hundred dollars, but it isn’t enough. Unexpectedly, Thomas offers to lend him the money, with the condition, that he takes him with him, at first Victor rejects the offer, but ultimately realizes that he needs Thomas' assistance to go. With Thomas' money, they board a plane to Phoenix. Likewise, when Robert arrives, the narrator feels uncomfortable. Through the window, he sees his wife and Robert, approaching. The thought of this man entering his house upsets him, “This blind man, feature this, and he was wearing a full beard! A beard on

Also, he tries to devalue every person in her past, as he does with the Officer, his wife past lover. But more than being unemotional and insensitive, physiologically he is battling his insecurities, and current inability to show affection, and express his emotions. The blind man, with his compassion and attentiveness, helps the Narrator see past his insecurities and bitterness, which allows him to explore his inner self through compassion. Apart from how the Narrator expresses himself, his intentions weren’t as bitter as his thoughts, he simply had a difficult time expressing his emotions, and Robert helped him see that. It’s fair to assume that a connection is made between them, and they will continue to communicate. Victor, gains a better understanding of himself, however, doesn’t allow himself to let go or allows compassion to flourish at a deeper level. Even though Thomas shows Victor a great amount of kindness and sincerity, Victor inflexibility doesn’t entirely permit him to embrace Thomas’ friendship, which is pure and innocent. After their journey together, Victor continues to regard Thomas as a crazy storyteller and not the beautiful human he is; Thomas appreciates their time together. From the beginning to the end of the story, Victor doesn’t visualize himself, being friend, with Thomas, as it is expressed in these lines: Victor knew what Thomas