Cathedral

The short story “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver develops characters through an intriguing perspective. In general, the narrator shows the realistic human attitudes and attributes, but there is also a depth that shows another interpretation. The writer, Carver, not only creates a realistic human picture, he uses the old story of the “deliverer” to rework the story into something different and more unique. He uses the characters to bind stories into readers’ minds into deeper level of his perspectives. Carver obviously wants us to see the narrator’s character as figuratively “blind.” As the story opens, the narrator gives a short background about his wife and the blind man’s relationship, and the readers can sense his disgust and unwillingness to understand what it is like to be blind. He only has concerns for himself and how uncomfortable he will be in the situation. The writer wants the readers to see how ignorant the narrator is, due to his lack of social life. The narrator keeps on ridiculing the blind man.