The narrator’s original point of view is that Robert is from his wives past so he must be a threat to him, so jealousy is appealed, “This blind man, an old friend of my wives … I wasn’t enthusiastic about the visit”(88). He also assumes that blindness was such a major weakness that Robert was completely inferior to himself. “My idea of blindness came form the movies … A blind man in my house was not something I looked forward to”(88). This is the narrator’s ignorance at play. He also thinks blind people cant smoke cigarettes.
In the story, the narrator says “and his being blind bothered me.” The narrator is a reflection of prejudice and the stereotypes in society. He expresses that his “idea of blindness came from the movies” and that in the movies “the blind man moved slowly and never laughed.”It is clearly easy to see that the narrator is judging a book by its cover. As the story progresses, Robert shows the narrator how to see things clearly and from a different perspective. For example in the story
We are introduced from the beginning of Raymond Carver’s Cathedral to a man that seems to be perturbed and agitated. The husband “ wasn’t enthusiastic about [Robert] visit, he was no one [he] knew. And his being blind bothered [him].” (20) He is uninterested in the relationship that Robert has with his wife. (21) The only reason he knows any thing about Robert is because she told him, he didn’t ask and didn’t care to know. We see how selfish and self centered the narrator is as he has thoughts of, “this blind man” “coming to sleep in [his] house” and telling his wife “maybe [he] could take him bowling” (22).
Micro Critique Cathedral by Raymond Carver Casey Bodtker January 25, 2012 English 104 Terrance Millet Cathedral by: Raymond Carver Dear Mr. Carver, I believe the heart of your story is the husband understanding and acceptance of the blind man, Robert. The reason the heart seems to center around this aspect are: In the beginning of the story, the husband has preconceived notions about blind people as we see in the passage, “My idea of blindness came from the movies. In the movies, the blind moved slowly and never laughed. Sometimes they were led by seeing-eye dogs.
The dialog was about how the narrator did not have in blind friends and with sarcasm he says, “Maybe I could take him bowling,” (Carver) the author shows the narrator lack of understanding of his wife friendship with the blind man. Maybe because of his limited experience with a blind person and understand where he is coming from. This lack of understand by the narrator gives the reader a little insight on the relationship be him and his wife. Where the husband feels like an outsider when Robert is joined them for the night. Due to the fact, he did take the time to understand his wife and her
Just after he learns of the blind man’s impending visit, the narrator states, “I wasn’t enthusiastic about his visit. He was no one I knew. And his being blind bothered me” (20). These thoughts carry on through the story as the narrator begins to give the background details on his wife’s relationship with the blind man. When the narrator describes a poem his wife wrote about an experience she had when the blind man touched her face, he says, “I can remember I didn’t think much of the poem” (20).
Lennie does not know his own strength, reacts to trouble when he is scared Idioms- “old lady” (p.53), “throw a litter” (p.58), “punk” (p.62), “cut off his wind” (p.63) Allusions- Luger, phonograph, fence picket, Golden Gloves Chapter 4- 66. Crooks was alone, living by himself and able to leave his personal possessions lying around 67. Loneliness- people kept their distance from Crooks because he was black 68. Loneliness- Lennie also quite alone in the world- only friend is George and tries to make friends with Crooks 69. Lennie- a genuinely nice person, has nice smile that tempted Crooks to let him in 69.
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.
Exercise #1 Cathedral by: Raymond Carver In the story Cathedral by Raymond Carver the narrator is a man who is unnamed. He is married, and an old friend of his wife is coming to see her. The narrator does not seem too happy about Robert; the visitor staying at his house. The reason why he seems to act the way he does is because Robert and his wife have kept in contact through the years and she talks very highly of him, to the point where the narrator does not want him staying in his home. “My idea of blindness came from the movies.
Cathedral “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver is illustrated on the irony of two men. One with physical sight but is spiritually blind and another which is physically blind but has spiritual insight. The main characters are the narrator and his wife, who are both nameless in the story and the blind man Robert. In the beginning of the story the narrator is nothing but with the help of the blind man he becomes something at the end of the story. The narrator is pathologically jealous, smart, witty, and insecure.