Role of Architecture in “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver

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Nicole Leavitt Professor Slattery ENG-L202 18 October 2012 Role of Architecture in “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver is a story about a man’s (the narrator) experience when his wife’s blind friend, Robert, visits their home and helps the narrator realize that he lacks meaning and intimacy in his life. Robert has a large influence on the narrator’s outlook on life and how he perceives the blind culture. By the end of the story, it is clear that even though Robert is physically blind, he has a great understanding of the world around him. The narrator who has complete vision is challenged to recognize his surroundings, and maintains a narrow mind. Towards the end of the story, when Robert and the narrator are watching a television show about cathedrals, the narrator attempts to describe a cathedral to Robert so he can visualize the picture being displayed on the TV. His attempts fail so Robert suggests that he hold the narrators hand as he sketches an image of a cathedral. The physical motions help Robert to conceptualize the meaning behind the word cathedral. The architecture and structure of cathedrals are two aspects of the story that represent true sight and meaning. Cathedrals stand as a metaphor for the ability to see beyond the surface and understand deeper meanings that may lie within. Struggling to find the right words to describe the cathedral, the narrator concludes that cathedrals have no personal relevance to him. Once the narrator takes the time to think about a cathedral and focus on drawing it, he finds himself indulged in adding every detail he can and even continues to draw with his eyes closed. Similarly to the way a cathedral offers a place for religious people to worship and find support or relief, the narrator’s drawing of the cathedral opens a door for him to find a deeper place in his own world. On the outside
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