Question

6.In Raymond carver’s “Cathedral”, the narrator undergoes a life-changing experience in his climactic encounter with Robert (the blind man). What changes in him? What is it about their shared act of creation (drawing the titular cathedral) that has such a profound effect on the narrator? Why is it significant that he closes his eyes at the height of his epiphany?

Answer 1

• In 'Cathedral' by Raymond Carver,it has a mental concept. The story, as told by a narrator, builds up with the pre-conceived notions about the blind and ends up showing how the narrator experiences a life-changing moment. This life-changing moment, which can be described as an epiphany, comes across in the narrator's effort to describe a cathedral to Robert, the blind man.
• Initially, he is found fumbling for words; however, thanks to sustained encouragement from Robert, he gets going: he draws the cathedral with the help of Robert, guiding his hand with a pencil to draw the cathedral.
• As the incident occurs, there is a personal connection and passionate moment of communication for the narrator. This creates a great impact; suddenly, he is able to connect with Robert, whereby, he throws his old insecurities and actually interact with someone else. In the narrator's own words, "It was like nothing else in my life up to now".
• The reader observes that the boundaries the narrator has placed on his interaction and communication with others are eroded by Robert's never ending persistence in attempting to get to know him.
• Indirectly, this session finds the narrator confronting his personal insecurities and misguided preconceptions, not just about Robert and the blind, but also about his own ability to effectively interact with others.
• The narrator's epiphany near the end of "Cathedral" is one seeing the world from a new perspective.Through helping Robert to draw and be able to "see" the Cathedral, the narrator has an almost religious experience of his own, finally realizing the value of seeing people and things from multiple points of view.
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