Introduction
The short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver focuses on one evening in a protagonist’s life that is likely to change him forever. The narrator and his wife play host to a blind man named Robert, an old friend of the woman. Although the story’s hero is initially uncomfortable with the guest being in his house, their interaction slowly shows him the new side of himself. By the end of the story, Bub begins to imagine what the world must be like for Robert, and, in doing so, he finds hope that he can confront his isolation and connect with people.
The Epiphany through Touch
The protagonist, known only as “Bub,” is shown as a reserved and uncommunicative person from the beginning of the story. Bub does not feel like having a blind person in his house because he does not know Robert, and his blindness bothers him as he never met anyone who is blind before (Carver 1). His knowledge of visually impaired individuals and what life is like for them is superficial and is based on something the narrator once read in the paper and saw on TV (Carver 6). He is genuinely surprised to discover that what he knows does not relate to Robert in any way. The narrator focuses intensively on describing Robert’s appearance and barely interacts with him in the first half of the story. He only joins the conversation to let Robert know that he is still in the room and not upset his wife (Carver 6). This fixation on Robert’s looks and surface participation in the talk shows the protagonist’s detachment from everyone in his life. Bub sees the people but does not know how to form connections with them.
The narrator’s lack of meaningful relationships is emphasized by Robert, who seems to form them with ease. He has been exchanging tapes with Bub’s wife for more than ten years and has friends worldwide (Carver 7). Robert’s affliction does not stop him from getting to know people, and he does not allow it to isolate him from anyone. In contrast, Bub voluntarily separates himself from people, closing himself off from everyone he knows. Nevertheless, the narrator’s perspective changes when he draws a cathedral with Robert. As Bub closes his eyes, he lets go of his constant self-consciousness and superficial judgments. Sharing the moment with Robert shows him that to understand someone, one needs to get deeper than looks and appearances and that forming connections is not so difficult. The moment feels right to Bub, and he even wants to keep his eyes closed longer, stating, “I thought it was something I ought to do” (Carver 13). It can be argued that this is the first time the speaker does not feel secluded and alone, and it gives him hope that he can connect with other people in the future.
Conclusion
“Cathedral” shows the narrator’s transformation from an extremely reserved person who does not know how to form meaningful connections in his life to someone who is aware that he is capable of it. By letting himself envision Robert’s world, the narrator relinquishes the restrictions he puts on himself and enjoys being in the moment. Overall, the connection the protagonist forms with Robert gives him hope and strength to face his isolation and form more meaningful relationships.
Reference
Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 1983.