Symbolism In Raymond Carver's Cathedral

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“Cathedral” While reading the short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, the reader is introduced to a life-changing experience between a selfish husband, Bub and a blind man from his wife’s past, Robert. The reader may realize that the mood changes throughout the story because of a new perspective that the wife and the blind man allows the husband to experience. Through Bub’s judgmental, close-minded, yet understanding character, the reader is more able to realize the changes that become present during Bub’s empiricism. Throughout this experience, Carver uses great diction and visual imagery to express the husband’s character and emotions in many situations. This provides the reader with a better idea of what is occurring and exactly how …show more content…
My idea of blindness come from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing eye dogs” (Par.1).
This quote immediately reveals that Bub is bothered by Robert being blind although, Robert is actually a good person. Bub constantly gives stubborn responses to his wife as she is trying to help the blind man because he is blind to reality by a stereotype. Bub’s reaction to his wife’s concern about Robert and Robert being blind proves that Bub is selfish and judgmental towards others. “A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to.” (1). Bub, again, expresses his feelings about Robert being blind, in a negative way. Before knowing him he states “a blind man”, which proves that Bub is judging him for being blind. Before Robert’s arrival, Bub and his wife discuss Robert. He still can’t come to an understanding with his wife as she tries to help Robert during his hard time.
““If you love me,” she said, “you can do this for me. If you don’t love me, okay. But if you had a friend, and the friend came to visit, I’d make him feel comfortable.” … “I don’t have any blind friends,” I said” …show more content…
Through Bub’s judgmental, close-minded, yet understanding character creates an impact on a real life situation. Despite the fact that Robert is physically blind, he is more willing, fair, and open-minded to new things. Bub is “blind” to reality and fails to try to understand until Robert creates a life-changing experience for him. Carver does a great job at analyzing the narrator’s emotions through changes in mood, diction, and his visual context, which gives a better understanding of the meaning as a
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