The limited world of the the narrator in the short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, can be looked at in contrast to the transformation of his stereotypical mindset. The dynamic changes behind his character creates an entirely new outlook and understanding concerning the important aspects in his life.
Full Answer
The transformation of the narrator comes rather unexpectedly. From the beginning of the story, he can see Robert as a mere blind man. He resents him and dismisses him as useless and weak. In fact, the narrator's stereotypical associations of the blind man are not different with that of a common person.May 15, 2017
The act of drawing a cathedral with Robert with his eyes closed, however, lets the narrator look inside himself and understand the greater meaning. As a result, his description of the cathedral takes on a more human element, which liberates the narrator and allows him to truly see for the first time.
As the story progresses, Bub is forced to interact with Robert in ways that seem foreign to him. Bub's difference interactions with Robert builds up to the both of them drawing a cathedral together, which leads to Bub being changed and him placing Roberts points of view ahead of his own.
We think the narrator's change was long coming. He's in a rut, and he's afraid that when Robert shows up, he'll see Robert and his wife are more than friends. But, he doesn't pursue this instinct. Part of this is because when he meets Robert he sees how silly he's been being.
The narrator, the narrator's wife, Robert The narrator is the most obvious protagonist of the story. He might not be the most likeable character, but he's the person telling the story, and seems to change the most in that story.
Kindness, sincerity, and openness seem like significant character traits of the narrator's wife. Since she sleeps through much of the present action of the story, the background information the narrator provides is vital to understanding her. If we didn't have it she'd be a bare sketch.
Answer and Explanation: In the short story, the significance of the image of the cathedral lies in its power to transcend the barriers of physical vision. The narrator mocks a blind man's ability of perception. He asks the blind man, Robert, if he has any idea of what a cathedral looks like.
Renowned author, Raymond Carver, skillfully weaves dramatic and situational irony throughout his short stories, Cathedral, Neighbors, and They're Not Your Husband. Situational irony is when the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs. In Cathedral and They 're Not Your Husband, situational irony is amply evident.
“Cathedral” concerns the change in one man's understanding of himself and the world, and Carver ends the story at exactly the moment when this change flickers in the narrator's mind. The narrator has not become a new person or achieved any kind of soul-changing enlightenment.
Robert. Robert seems like a great guy, someone who it would be a pleasure to know.
How did the narrator's wife meet Robert? She was hired by Robert to read to him after responding to a help wanted advertisement.
The three characters of this story were, the blind man, the husband and his wife. The husband is the only dynamic character. His wife is flat and the blind man is static.Nov 12, 2013
The protagonist and narrator of Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” is a middle-aged unnamed man. Through interior monologue, the narrator shows himself to be cynical and insensitive, especially to the poetry written by his wife. He… read analysis of Narrator
Robert is a friend of the narrator’s wife who comes to stay at their home after visiting his recently deceased wife’s family. Since the long-ago summer when the narrator’s wife worked for Robert (who is… read analysis of Robert
The main physical setting is the narrator’s home (mostly the kitchen and the living room), but there are also references to other places such as Seattle, where the narrator’s wife met Robert, or Connecticut, where Robert buried his wife.
The social setting explores aspects related to marriage and relationships, friendship, and attitudes towards people with disabilities (in this case, blind people).
The limited world of the the narrator in the short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, can be looked at in contrast to the transformation of his stereotypical mindset. The dynamic changes behind his character creates an entirely new outlook and understanding concerning the important aspects in his life.
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Robert asks the narrator to find a piece of paper and pen. Then he and the narrator sit around the coffee table, and Robert tells the narrator to draw a cathedral. He puts his hand over the narrator’s hand, following the movement of the pen. The narrator draws and draws, getting wrapped up in what he’s doing.
The narrator says his wife looks at him but doesn’t seem to like what she sees. The narrator says he’s never known a blind person. He describes what Robert looks like and what he’s wearing. Robert doesn’t wear dark glasses, which the narrator finds strange.
After eight years, however, Beulah died from cancer. The narrator thinks how awful it must have been for Beulah to know that her husband could never look at her.