Similarities Between 'Cathedral And' Sudden Journey In Raymond Carver's Cathedral

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Discovery Within The authors of these two pieces of literature are married. They are both known for their short stories and poems. Raymond Carver, the author of “Cathedral,” shows his writing style through the blind man’s hardships in life and abrupt ending. Tess Gallagher, the author of “Sudden Journey”, shows her intimate, personal style of writing by portraying a little girl and how she feels about the rain. “Cathedral” and “Sudden Journey” both depict transformation; while “Cathedral” shows self transformation through an encounter with a blind man; “Sudden Journey” shows it in a return to childhood. Raymond Carver’s short story, “Cathedral,” portrays a story about how society is quick to judge someone who is not normal. In the beginning…show more content…
As it says in the story, the narrator is not enthusiastic about the blind man coming and it really bothered him that he was blind: “[Robert] didn’t use a cane and he didn’t wear dark glasses: “I’d always thought dark glasses were a must for the blind. Fact was, I’d wish he had a pair” (Carver 24). When Robert comes in the house, the reader can tell the narrator was not excited about his arrival and his wife instantly disapproves of his attitude toward the man. They are introduced to each other and Robert refers to the narrator as “Bub” like a nickname. The narrator says, “Then I wanted to say something else, small-talk, about the scenic ride along the Hudson. How going to New York, you should sit on the right-hand side of the train, and coming from New York the left-hand side. Did you have a good train ride” (Carver 23). These are the things the narrator wanted to talk about but since Robert is blind the narrator does not know how to connect with Robert to talk about other…show more content…
Tess Gallagher’s “Sudden Journey” is a poem in which the speaker, now an adult, reflects back on her childhood. It describes an exciting time in the speaker’s life. This is a special memory for her because at age seven she felt young and free. In the poem, the speaker is not only drinking the rain, but she gets a sudden urge to gulp the rain as stated, “I can drink anywhere” (Gallagher 12). The reader gets a clear image in his/her head of the little girl in the pouring rain, drenched, and enjoying every

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