Emotional Understanding in Cathedral Essay

For some people, the lack of emotional understanding is a greater handicap than that of a person who lacks sight or hearing. Cathedral, by Raymond Carver, provides an excellent and appropriate scenario to prove that the disabled can help a physically healthy person overcome, or at least discover, their inner impediment. Blindness in the most literal sense means lack of sight, but why do people assume this is only a physical ailment? Why is it assumed that physical blindness is more of a handicap than someone who is blind to his or her own ignorance and insecurities? Robert, the blind friend of Carvers wife, adopts the literal role of blindness whereas the figurative role of blindness is assumed by the narrator because of his inability to seek and accept people who are different.

Literal blindness is considered by most as a major set back for a normal life and a burden for those around them who must acquire a large amount of patience and compassion. Robert, however, seems to have accepted his abnormality. He jokes about his having two different types of televisions and states but if I turn the TV on, and Im always turning it on, I turn on the color set. Its funny, dont you think?(727). He proves that even without sight, he is still able to enjoy a show like any other person would. Finding out how accepting he is with this would bring light to any reader into how she might be currently living her own lift, turning a light onto how she has viewed all her problems and showing her that things can always be worse. How easily he jokes about this gift and curse he has been given is reassuring to the humor of humanity. Curse because of the obvious lack of ever seeing the beauty nature provides, yet a blessing because of the ability to appreciate inner beauty.

Physical blindness is a burden, but Carver proves inner blindness certain to be more detrimental to ones personal growth. The narrator begins the situation by stating how he wasnt enthusiastic about his [the blind mans] visit because he was no one [he] knew. And his being blind bothered [him] A blind man in [his] house was not something [he] looked forward to (723). The narrator is clearly not compassionate to the needs of a man who has no sight and has recently lost his beloved wife. What kind of person dreads the coming of a man who wants a friend in a time of need? A blind man is the answer; a man who is more concerned about his wifes feelings toward himself rather than the positive fact that she is empathetic to a friend in need. The narrator explains how he waited in vain to hear [his] name on [his] wifes sweet lipsBut [he] heard nothing of the sort(727). Both the wife and husband are stressing about the visit. When the narrator decides to relieve tension, he turns the TV on and his wife looked at [him] with irritation. Her stress derives from how she assumes her husband will interact with Robert and his stress from foreseeing the awkward and uncomfortable situations that are approaching. Both are selfish and both are blind to the needs of this hapless man. Considering how uncomfortable he, the narrator, would be as opposed to taking into account the mans lose is disgusting and leaves the reader with no empathy towards this man. His blind and ignorant behavior is a more detrimental act towards society then any physically blind man could ever portray.

Though a lack of respect has developed towards the narrator by the reader, the admiration is soon restored when Robert initiates the opportunity to interact with the narrator. How the narrator reacts is a determining factor in his character, whether he shuns away or takes to the new experience is something reader yearns to discover. Though the scotch and smoke may have something to do with the sudden urge, the narrator is confident in his ability to describe a new thing to a man with not sight. After drawing the cathedral for Robert, he is asked if he is looking at the new artwork, Carver responds that his eyes were still closed but [he] didnt feel like [he] was inside anything. Its really something, (732). The reader infers Carver has opened his eyes to a new sighta sight with deeper meaning and new confidence in how life can be appreciated. Carver has drawn the conclusion that he no longer feels like [he] was inside anything(732) meaning he has opened his closed mind. The sighted person never thought hed learn from the blind.

Carvers Cathedral is a story the masses should read and appreciate because it approaches an issue most are blind to, which is the lack of mental insight and personal acceptance. Readers grow from Carvers ability to see blindness as no longer as a disability, but instead as a liberating awareness. Carver realizes he was lacking sight as opposed to Robert and will hopefully keep this new lesson with him for the betterment of himself and his relationship with his wife. Hopefully future readers are not blind to the lesson being taught here and learn to appreciate the gifts and burdens given to them with open hearts and open eyes.