Introduction
In the short story Cathedral by Raymond Carver, the narrator is a husband who goes through a life-changing experience that teaches him not to be judgmental and also learns to listen. It is not only a tale of mutual understanding and acceptance, but it is also a cultural narrative. Cathedral portrays a typical American family and the challenges it may face. All of these features are illustrated through the unique style, characters, and themes of an American short story. The stories such as Cathedral are crucial for a full understanding of the ideas of American short stories.
The Characters
The story and the great revelation the author experiences only happens because of the narrator’s wife. She invites Robert to the house since they have been close friends for about ten years. The reader is also told the story of her unhappy marriage before she married the narrator. After that, her role in the story moves to the background.
Robert is one of the central heroes of the story. He is a wise and compassionate man who really listens to others. He is blind, but his ability to comprehend what people are saying allows him to see even without sight. Robert was the man that the narrator’s wife turned to in despair when she needed to be heard. His presence is almost magical, while it allows the narrator and his wife to transform.
On the other hand, the narrator shows a lack of insight and awareness of himself and the situation he finds himself in. He does not make an effort to listen actively and has trouble figuring out people’s emotions and feelings. Such a difference in physical and mental capabilities between the narrator and Robert almost makes Robert seem like the one who truly sees. “Imagine a woman who could never see herself as she was seen in the eyes of her loved one” (Carver 213), through the narrator to himself, even though Robert and Beulah’s relationship was idyllic. He could not understand the possibility of moral and nonphysical connection and pitied Robert.
However, as the narrator draws a cathedral with Robert, he has an epiphany. After the initial awkwardness in conversation, he is forced to communicate with Robert after his wife falls asleep. The process of drawing a cathedral with one’s eyes closed opened a new perspective of understanding oneself and others in Robert.
Themes
The story touches and explores a variety of different themes, such as insecurity, jealousy, isolation, connection, and disconnection. However, the main themes are art as a form of expression and the difference between looking and seeing. Art becomes a means for Robert and the narrator to come together in a shared activity. The narrator never really understood art. His wife wrote poems, but he did not like them since he could not understand them.
The act of drawing a cathedral was the first attempt by the narrator to realize and comprehend art as a form of communication and self-expression. “How could I even begin to describe it? But say my life depended on it. Say my life was being threatened by an insane guy who said I had to do it or else,” reflected the narrator on the description of a cathedral (Carver 224).
The other important theme in the Cathedral is the difference between looking and actually seeing. Seeing is understood as a more in-depth ability than simply be capable of looking. Seeing is regarded as an ability to engage, analyze, and understand the given phenomenon actively. In this meaning, the narrator could look but not see at the beginning of a story. On the other hand, Robert could see more than the narrator, even while being blind. The moral of the story lies in this crucial diversification. Thus, Carver urges the readers to reevaluate the definition of seeing and demonstrates that seeing involves more than barely looking.
Symbols
Certain parts of the story carry deep symbolic meaning. For example, over time, readers realize that there are many similarities between Robert and the narrator, and perhaps these men are identical. This can be noticed in the moment when they both sit on the ground with their eyes closed, that is, both become blind.
Cannabis use can also be seen as a means of communication between themes. Another crucial symbol is the Catedral, where people can turn to God. An interesting detail is that the narrator trusts a blind person, although he is able to see. Thus, he is being led by someone else, which hints to the reader about the beneficial power of faith.
Conclusion
The story Cathedral by Raymond Carver gives a variety of characters and opinions on different topics. It perfectly reflects the United States of America with its diverse culture. The story shows the development of the character that faces such a challenge in life. The fight against stereotypes and prejudices expressed in the face of the narrator tells a familiar story of a man questioning his own beliefs and stands on different points. It allows the readers to relate to the characters that make mistakes and learn, which makes it a perfect American story from a regular person’s perspective.
Work Cited
Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. Vintage, 2015.