Character Analysis Cathedral Narrator

Cathedral

Character Analysis: Cathedral Narrator

The objective of this study is to present an argument that the narrator in 'Cathedral' is a complex and sympathetic character and to consider the extent to which he seems unaware with his own limitations despite being incapable of articulating that unhappiness. The narrator in the work of Raymond Carver entitled "Cathedral" is a complex and sympathetic character who is unaware of his own limitations and essentially unhappy even though he is incapable of articulating that unhappiness and learns from a blind man that unless one is aware of their limitations that those limitations cease to exist. The work 'Cathedral' is about a visit paid by a blind man to his friend, the wife of the narrator, following the death of the blind man's wife. While the wife greatly anticipates the visit of the blind man, the husband and narrator of 'Cathedral' has a great deal of anxiety about the blind man's visit. When the blind man arrives the husband is surprised to find that when he extends his hand to shake hands with the blind man that the blind man reciprocates extending his hand for the handshake. The narrator and husband in this story is amazed at the mobility of the blind man and the blind man's positive attitude about his condition of blindness. After having eaten dinner together the wife, husband/narrator, and blind man sit down to talk. Eventually the wife goes to sleep and the blind man and the husband/narrator are watching and listening to programs on the television.

The narrator of 'Cathedral' is a complex character who is greatly sympathetic with the plight of the blind man however, the narrator appears at first to be shallow and assuming. The narrator does not appear to be the type of individual that adheres closely to the learning about anything or anyone new or different and is therefore hesitant to meet his wife's blind friend. The narrator also appears to be a shallow individual as the story begins and he asks his wife if she would like him to take her blind friend bowling. However, as the story develops the sensitivity of the narrator comes forth.

The blind man does not appear to be knowledgeable of the extent of his actual limitations existing as a blind individual as he navigates about the world in a self-assured manner appearing quite comfortable with his blindness. The blind man is an astute learner, an adept conversationalist, and agreeable to learning new facts as he relates that anything on television will be suitable for his listening as he likes learning something new. While the television is being watched by the characters in this story, the subject of cathedrals comes up and the blind man expresses that he does not know what a cathedral looks like and asks the narrator to describe the appearance of the cathedral. The narrator attempts to describe a cathedral but is not able to express the majestic beauty or the imposing sight of a cathedral to the blind man. The blind man requested that the narrator please draw the cathedral and that he allow the blind man to lay his hand atop the narrators' hand as he draws the cathedral. Just as the narrator's words fail to describe the appearance of the cathedral, the narrator is unable to articulate his own unhappiness in life in regards to his own spiritual beliefs or religion. However, that which the narrator lacks in his articulation of his thoughts of the cathedral, he is able to express in his drawing of the cathedral which he does while having his eyes closed. He seems surprised and amazed when he sees what he has drawn although the story leaves the reader hanging wondering just what he narrator has actually drawn on the piece of paper. The narrator is limited in providing a description of the cathedral due to some inner state of rigidness concerning his feelings or beliefs of things that are of a spiritual nature. The narrator however, motivated by the blind man is able to articulate his feelings not in words, but by way of the cathedral drawing.