Analysis of Cathedral in PDF

Running head: ANALYSIS OF CATHEDRAL
ANALYSIS OF CATHEDRAL
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

ANALYSIS OF CATHEDRAL1
Cathedral, written by Raymond Carver, concerns a man whose wife invites a blind
man named Robert. The protagonist, that is the husband felt reluctant to meet the visually
impaired man, but later they developed a friendly relationship. The husband eventually
realizes a new way to perceive the society and the world around him. Raymond Carver’s
Cathedral can be perceived as a story that explores the husband’s intimate and transformative
interaction with the blind man. The essay delivers an in depth theme analysis of the story of
Cathedral by Raymond Carver bringing out the life truth and its important lessons that the
story teaches regarding life and the criticisms that the author addresses through the meaning
of human experiences (Carver).
The paragraph follows the theme of vision through the course of interaction, the
narrator evolves from the personality of someone who does not delves deeper into any
aspects of life. Initially, the narrator thinks Robert to be pathetic and strange. The narrator’s
crude attacks on the disability of Robert points out that he lacks the ability to understand
someone and empathize with the person’s inner struggles. For instance, when the narrator
turns on the television, even being aware of Robert’s disability. The narrator through his
behavioural aspects reveals his dominance over Robert (Carver). However, as time grew
longer the narrator gradually extends his own perception by viewing things through Robert’s
perspective. When the narrator intended to exclude Robert by turning on the television,
Robert surprisingly appreciates the television and the fact that he enjoys television by
listening. Following him, the narrator’s act of watching is shifted to listening, assembling
himself according to Robert’s convenience. For instance, when the narrator says, “he and I
listened to the weather report and then to the sports roundup”, And further, the narrator
begins describing the Cathedral on the television so that Robert can understand what is
showing on television (Carver). The narrator puts efforts in delivering the right essence and

ANALYSIS OF CATHEDRAL2
picture of the Cathedral in Robert’s mind. Thereby, it is clear that through the course of
interaction, Robert changes the perception of narrator towards life.
The story reveals the theme of empathy and listening as the narrator meets Robert.
Robert’s persona is shaped up in accordance with the emotional lives of others, as he is a man
of emotion and an empathetic listener, while the narrator struggles in retaining his
relationship with his wife (Carver). The author, therefore, through their life experiences
carves out the configurations of empathy through the act of listening as a mode of perception.
The problem between the narrator n the wife is witnessed as he explains his wife’s attempt to
suicide, pointing out the narrator’s lack of understanding his wife’s emotions (Carver). He
further belittle his wife’s poem that were based on her life’s most crucial moment. But on the
contrary, when his wife was appreciated by Robert, the narrator appeared to be envying their
friendship along with the realization that it is Robert who is the empathetic listener. Robert’s
behavioural pattern reveals that he is warm hearted gentleman. And the fact that the
friendship of Robert and the narrator’s wife relies on the communication through audiotapes
across the country (Carver). Thereby, the narrator’s rudeness and unwilling attention towards
the guest magnifies more. But he could not retain the deflection and hatred any more, the
moment when Robert shows respects and kindness (Carver). Following his unexpected warm
responses, the narrator undergoes an effective spiritual transformation that further turned him
up to be more kinder and empathetic individual.
The story of Cathedral reflects the theme of intimacy and isolation at the very
beginning. It is evident when the narrator’s wife remarked that her husband does not have any
friends. The magnification of the narrator’s alienation magnified more when he heard that his
wife’s friend is visiting their place (Carver). He envies their bond of pure friendship provided
with the fact that his wife receives appreciation for every things she does (Carver). As the
story proceeds, it is observed that Robert’s kindness wins over the narrator. The scene