KeithGray

I also thought it was interesting the way that they both experienced the drawing -- even though it was the husband's invention, the blind man still had a part in it because his hand was also holding onto the hand that was holding the pen. It was a community effort, without an artist's signature at the end, much like the cathedrals of the Middle Ages.

I was struck by the narrator's surprise at suddenly being the creator of cathedrals -- first in words, and then through drawing. The cathedrals on the TV show were as meaningless to the narrator as the pictures were to the blind man. They end up creating a catheral together -- like the nameless artisans to whom Julie refers.

Looking into the essay, there is a great sense of masculinity as an underling issue. Picture the two men in this story, then imagine it as women doing the same thing. Just think of Raymond Carver and minimalism

I like how we get to see the narrator transform his "view" on blind people and blindess.

Fosl , West Palm Beach Fl

I'm not sure what happened. Plot wise I can tell you, but something great and larger than life happened. Something very hard to explain. Almost puzzling.

I feel as though faith must have played a role.
The husband is quiet, unsure, and reserved in the beginning, however; he soon shares special moments with the blindman even though his wife is sleeping.

I just ran a search on "cathedral summary" and this came up. I have to compare and contrast two stories that we read in class. One was cathedral, the other was a good man is hard to find. Thanks for the input. I really enjoyed this entry.

The narrator is shown to be spiritually blind throughout the story, but Robert opens his eyes, spiritually, to the actual life around him, instead of the superficial one.

Both these men suffer from blindness. Is "Bub" to blame for the blinders he wears to protect himself from any emotional attachment other than the jealous obsession he harbours for his wife? I say yes. Does Robert see this and respond in in a visionary way? Yes again. Is it the blind leading the blind? Unh Huh.

To me this story is about religion. The story tells about the emptiness a person feels without God in thier life. It also shows how people (you and me) try to fill the the emptiness with earthly things like pot drinking and pot. The story also shows how hard a person without God must live. (i.e.) Jealousy, rockey marriage

I ran a search on "Cathedral", I was needing some help with the larger themes for an exam I have tomorrow, but every summary I come across seems to be missing something...some explanation...I guess I would like more input on the wife's character.

Cathedral,a church leaded by a bishop-an overseer. HE looks up on everyone, even blind. Maybe Robert can't see what "Bub" was drawing, but he sure gave the narrator the idea of how it is to be blind and view things differently form the mind's eye, as is blessed by the one for all.

there's a reconciling element to carver's work - often comes from characters imagining others' lives....
or indeed there's the failure of characters to make the imaginative leap that will connect them with others.
relevant to cathedral, i think.

I believe that each character represents an aspect of problems in society. Carver’s purpose of writing this is to brain wash his readers into believing his liberal political views.

Dallas, Texas

Geez Dallas, aren't you glad that big bad Carver wasn't able to penetrate your insular paradigm. Maybe you should read someone safer like Hal Lindsey.

HAHA the story was not that good, come on , get a life watch TV instead books are in the past.

The irony in the story is amazing. At first the narrator considers robert to be the blind one, but we realize at the end that the narrator is in essence the blind one and robert opens up his eyes.

um i have a response for jason who posted on november 30th 2004... this story had nothing to do with religion and assuming thats someones life is going to be hard because they dont believe in god is a kinda shitty attitude to have- this story made no reference to god anywhere, in any way... so i dont know how you even got that... maybe you're just one of those crazy jesus freaks who agree with things like bush for president and homosexuality being outlawed... i dont know, but i dont appreciate your little assumption there about "godless people" - ive said my peace, thank you and goodnight

Woa there Leah. Actually the book does make a reference to religion. At the end Robert asks if Bub is "in any way religious?" Let's leave Bush out of this, and allow Jason his rightful freedom of speech. He was merely presenting a possible interpretation of the story. If you have something to say in regards to the story I'm sure we would all love to hear it. Peace

The blind man is shaman -- notice how he rocks back and forth -- the pot is a sacrament -- the television images are like the images in the dreams the narrator says he wakes up with panic attacks about. The narrator and the blind man dream a cathedral together. The narrator has no faith -- in himself, in his wife -- and he has no friends. The blind man shows him that his house is a cathedral, his life is holy, and that compassion and understanding are the roots of existence. The narrator gradually begins to understand -- through his realization of his estrangement from his wife, and through his realization of the blind man's loss of Beulah -- that at the root of all human understanding and love is empathy.

See everyone. That is the beauty of an allegory. People can say that "this story means THIS and nothing else" but an allegory is totally open to interpretation. And an interpretation is an opinion and I think we all need to respect the fact that everyone has a different one. If we could all just learn to accept others' opinions, the world would be a more peaceful place.