In his renowned short story, "Cathedral" (1983), Raymond Carver explores the unlikely bond formed between two seemingly different men through their shared appreciation for medieval architecture. This poignant tale delves into themes of intimacy and isolation, the role of art in finding meaning, and the contrast between perception and sight.
Early Life and Career of Raymond Carver
Raised in a small town in Oregon, Raymond Carver was born in 1938. His father's struggles with alcoholism greatly influenced his childhood. After moving to Washington state, Carver witnessed the hardships faced by the working class. Despite his busy family life, he pursued writing and published his first poetry collection, "Near Klamath" (1968). While teaching creative writing and taking on odd jobs to support his family, Carver continued to hone his craft.
Battling Alcoholism and Rediscovering Writing
In the 1970s, Carver's alcoholism became a major roadblock in his life, leading to hospitalizations and infidelity. However, with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, he overcame his addiction in 1977. Unfortunately, his writing and teaching career suffered, causing him to take a hiatus from writing. But in the early 1980s, Carver made a triumphant return to writing with the publication of two highly acclaimed works: "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" (1981) and "Cathedral" (1983).
The Themes of "Cathedral"
"Cathedral" encompasses many of the recurring themes in Carver's writing, such as the struggles of the working class, fractured relationships, and the power of human connection. It also serves as a prime example of dirty realism, a genre characterized by its raw and honest portrayal of everyday life. Considered one of Carver's finest works, "Cathedral" remains a favorite among readers.
The term "dirty realism" was coined by Bill Buford in 1983, and Carver was among its leading voices. Other notable authors in this genre include Charles Bukowski, Jayne Anne Phillips, Tobias Wolff, Richard Ford, and Elizabeth Tallent.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1988, Carver married poet Tess Gallagher, but tragically, he passed away only two months later at the age of 50 from lung cancer. However, his impact on literature continues to resonate through his powerful and thought-provoking writing.
A Brief Synopsis of "Cathedral"
The unnamed narrator of "Cathedral" reluctantly agrees to host his wife's old friend, Robert, who is blind. His wife had a life-changing experience when Robert once asked to touch her face, and she has kept in touch with him ever since. The narrator's skepticism about Robert's blindness leads him to make insensitive jokes. But as they spend time together, the narrator develops a deeper understanding and genuine appreciation for Robert's unique perspective.
Romanticizing this unconventional friendship, Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" poignantly reminds us that true understanding and intimacy can be found in the most unexpected of places, even through the lens of medieval architecture. Through their shared experience, the two men learn that the power of human connection is far greater than differences in perception.
During the events of the story "Cathedral," the protagonist enters a trance-like state and becomes disconnected from his familiar home environment.
The main character of "Cathedral" is an average man living paycheck to paycheck, struggling with his own inner demons. He indulges in vices like marijuana and heavy drinking and harbors intense jealousy. When his wife invites her blind friend to stay with them, the narrator's initial hostility towards the man evolves into a deeper understanding and connection.
An unnamed character, the narrator's wife was previously married to a military officer, but her nomadic lifestyle left her feeling isolated and miserable, leading her to try to take her own life. After her divorce, she worked with Robert, her blind friend, by reading to him. She invites him to stay with them and becomes frustrated with her husband's insensitivity. Her openness with Robert highlights the communication issues in her marriage.
Robert is a charismatic and empathetic blind man who visits the narrator's wife after his own wife's passing. Despite the narrator's initial coldness, Robert manages to put both him and his wife at ease. The two men form a connection when Robert asks the narrator to describe a cathedral.
The late wife of Robert, Beulah passed away from cancer, leaving him heartbroken. He visits the narrator's wife in search of companionship. Like the narrator's wife, Beulah also responded to a job advertisement and worked for Robert, creating a sense of common ground between them.
In "Cathedral," author Raymond Carver employs first-person narration, irony, and symbolism to illustrate the limitations of the narrator and how his encounters with Robert transform him.
The story is narrated from the perspective of the main character, giving readers a personal insight into his thoughts and emotions. The narrator's tone is cynical and casual, evident in his assumptions and sarcastic remarks. Despite being the protagonist, he is not particularly likable. However, as the story progresses, the first-person point of view allows readers to witness the narrator's emotional growth as he challenges his biases towards Robert and himself. By the end, he realizes his lack of understanding and reflects, "My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I was inside anything" (13).
In conclusion, "Cathedral" is a thought-provoking tale of transformation, as the narrator's encounter with a blind man leads him to confront his own ignorance and prejudice. Through its characters and literary techniques, Carver emphasizes the importance of human connection and understanding in a world full of assumptions and judgments.
In Raymond Carver's "Cathedral," the narrator undergoes a transformation from a closed-off and crude individual to a blue-collar figure of enlightenment. As the protagonist and anti-hero of the story, the narrator lacks the traits typically associated with a hero. This is a recurring theme in literature, seen in characters such as Jack Sparrow, Deadpool, and Walter White, who may lack morality but possess a captivating allure.
Irony plays a significant role in "Cathedral," particularly when it comes to the concept of blindness. At the start of the story, the narrator holds biases against the blind man, assuming he is incapable of simple tasks like smoking or watching TV due to what he has heard from others.
However, the true irony lies in the fact that it is the blind man who helps the narrator see the world more clearly. As they work together on a drawing of a cathedral, the narrator closes his eyes and reaches a state of enlightenment. This serves as a metaphor for the idea that true insight and understanding can come from within, instead of solely relying on physical sight.
The blind man's guidance and presence also challenge the narrator's preconceived notions and stereotypes about blind individuals, highlighting the narrow-mindedness of society and the value of breaking free from societal expectations and limitations.
As a realist writer, Carver's stories often lack flowery language, but there are several symbols in "Cathedral" that hold greater significance than their literal meaning.
The cathedral itself serves as a symbol of enlightenment and deeper understanding. Initially, the narrator disregards its importance, but when he draws it with the blind man, he gains a newfound appreciation for its beauty and the concept of finding meaning beyond the surface level.
Blindness is a crucial symbol in the story, representing the narrator's lack of perception and empathy. Despite having physical sight, he is blind to the emotions and experiences of others, as well as his own emotional disconnection. Through his encounter with the blind man, he learns to see beyond his own limited perspective and gains emotional insight and understanding.
The exchange of audiotapes between the narrator's wife and the blind man also symbolizes the power of connection and loyalty. Despite physical distance, the two maintain a strong bond through the tapes, serving as a bridge between them. This highlights the idea that genuine connections can transcend physical barriers.
The themes in "Cathedral" revolve around intimacy and isolation, the significance of art, and perception versus sight.
The characters in the story struggle with the conflicting desires for intimacy and isolation. The narrator's wife, for instance, craves intimacy but fears rejection, leading to feelings of isolation. These themes explore the complexities of human relationships and the internal struggle between wanting connection and fearing vulnerability.
Art also plays a significant role in the story, acting as a source of meaning and enlightenment for the characters. Through the act of drawing the cathedral, the narrator breaks out of his closed-off mentality and gains a deeper understanding of himself and others.
The theme of perception versus sight is also prominent in "Cathedral." The blind man's lack of physical sight challenges the narrator's perception and forces him to see the world in a new way. This emphasizes the idea that true understanding and enlightenment come from within, rather than solely relying on physical sight.
In conclusion, Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" is a captivating exploration of human nature, told through the transformation of a closed-off man into an enlightened individual. Through the use of irony and symbolism, Carver delivers a powerful message about breaking free from societal expectations and gaining a deeper understanding of oneself and others through art.
Raymond Carver's short story "Cathedral" delves into the themes of isolation, connection, and the transformative nature of perception. Published in 1983 as part of Carver's collection of the same name, the story follows the journey of a cynical narrator who learns valuable lessons from a blind man, exposing the limitations of superficial assumptions and the importance of looking beyond physical senses.
The story opens with the narrator feeling uncomfortable with a blind man, Robert, spending the night at his house. His preconceived notions based on movie stereotypes prevent him from seeing Robert as a person. However, as the evening progresses, the narrator realizes that Robert is more emotionally perceptive and understanding than he is. Robert's actions and words display thoughtfulness and consideration towards his hosts, who are struggling in their own marriage. Even when the narrator tries to dismiss him, Robert persists, causing the narrator to reevaluate his own life and relationships.
As the night goes on, the narrator and Robert begin to draw a cathedral together, a moment that becomes transformative for the narrator. Through Robert's guidance and insight, the narrator gains a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him, including his judgmental and cynical nature. This marks a significant change in the narrator, as he becomes more open-minded and perceptive, thanks to Robert's metaphorical sight.
In the end, Carver's "Cathedral" showcases the power of art to break barriers and foster a deeper sense of understanding and connection. It challenges readers to look beyond superficial judgments and seek a more profound meaning in life. Through the characters' experiences, Carver reminds us of the profound impact that perception can have in our lives.
- Published in 1983, "Cathedral" is a short story by Raymond Carver.
- It explores the themes of perception and transformation in a cynical narrator's journey.
- The cathedral symbolizes a deeper understanding and perception of life.
- The turning point occurs when the narrator and Robert draw the cathedral together.
- The story encourages readers to look beyond surface-level judgments and seek a deeper understanding of life and others.
