Setting Characterization and Symbolism Explored in Carvers Cathedral
Moments of epiphany are rarely planned and even less expected but wealways seemed to know when they arrive. The narrator in Raymond Carver'sshort story, "Cathedral," experiences such a life-changing epiphany lateone night in his living room with the aid of a blind man. He learns thereis much more to life than he once thought and there are many different waysto perceive it. Through the setting, characterization, and symbolism inthe story, Carver emphasizes the significance of the narrator's epiphany. The characters and their relationships allow us to understand thenarrator's true character. At the beginning of the story, the narrator isuneasy about Robert's staying in his home. He bluntly tells us that he"wasn't enthusiastic about his visit" (Carver 209) and, in addition tothat, he admits that Robert's blindness bothers him. We also learn thatthe narrator's understanding of the blind is somewhat limited. Forexample, he says that his notions of blindness "came from the movies" (209)and he assumed that blind people "moved slowly and never laughed" (209).When he sees Robert, he is surprised that he has a beard and that he didnot use a walking cane and did not wear dark glasses. He is also
In the end, the narrator overcomes the barrierspresented by both obstacles and becomes more aware as an individual. surprisedto see that Robert not only smokes cigarettes but that he smokes them "downto the nubbin and then lit another one" (217). It is the impetus for the narrator's epiphany. This feeling also allows him toconnect with another individual, which might be the first time he does so. He becomes aware that a world exists outside ofhis living room through the act of drawing. On the night ofRobert's visit, the narrator continues to do and say things that upset hiswife. The act of drawing allowsboth men to experience something that they never had before. Without the obstacles, he would have never experienced his epiphany. Robert represents anoutside force that stirs jealous emotions within the narrator. Robert isalso the one from which the narrator learns his lesson. In addition, he understands anew way of learning, which is feeling. In addition, the act of drawing one brings the two men closertogether. The narratorallows Robert to understand cathedrals and Robert allows the narrator tounderstand blindness. From theseexamples, we know that the narrator's wife shared a more open relationshipwith Robert than she did with her husband, which testifies to the fact thather relationship with her husband was perhaps less than fulfilling. This can be seen in the narrator's lack of concern aboutRobert's visit.
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