Cathedral (short story) 1

Cathedral (short story)

"Cathedral" is a short story written by American writer and poet Raymond Carver in 1983. It is included in the
anthology of the same name.

Plot summary
“Cathedral” opens with the narrator telling the reader in a conversational tone that a blind friend of his wife’s is
coming to visit them. The narrator is clearly unhappy about the upcoming visit. He then flashes back to the story of
how his wife met the blind man when she worked for him as a reader. At the time, she was engaged to marry an
officer in the Air Force. When she tells the blind man goodbye, he asks if he can touch her face. The touch of his
fingers on her face is a pivotal moment in her life, something the narrator does not understand.
Although his wife has maintained contact with the blind man for ten years, this will be the first time she has seen him
since her marriage, subsequent divorce, and remarriage. Robert, the blind man, has just lost his wife and will be
traveling to Connecticut to visit with her family. Along the way he will spend the night at the home of the narrator
and his wife. His wife tells the narrator that Robert and his wife, Beulah, were inseparable. The narrator further
denigrates the blind man by considering how dreadful it must have been for Beulah not to have been seen by the man
she loved.
When Robert arrives, he visits with the narrator’s wife; the narrator observes them, but only occasionally joins in on
the conversation. They all drink heavily and eat a large dinner, complete with strawberry pie. After dinner, they
drink more, and the narrator continues to observe. Finally deciding that the blind man is “beginning to run down,” the
narrator turns on the television set, much to his wife’s dismay. She leaves the room to get on a robe, and Robert and
the narrator share marijuana, again much to his wife’s dismay.
The narrator’s wife falls asleep and the narrator is left with Robert and the television. The narrator attempts to
describe what he sees on the television; however, when a cathedral appears in a documentary, the narrator is unable
to find the words to describe it.
Robert asks the narrator to get some paper and a pen so that they can draw a cathedral together. The narrator does as
he is asked. When he returns, he gives the paper to Robert who feels the size of the paper. Then Robert places his
hand on the hand of the narrator that holds the pen. “‘Go ahead, bub, draw, “he said. ‘Draw. You’ll see. I’ll follow
along with you. It’ll be okay. Just begin now like I’m telling you.’”
The drawing goes on and on. Finally, Robert tells the narrator to close his eyes, and continue to draw. At this
moment, something strange happens to the narrator. “It was like nothing else in my life up to now,” he tells the
reader. Even when Robert tells him to open his eyes, he keeps them closed. Something has happened to him that has
changed his understanding of life. “My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn’t feel like I
was inside anything.” No longer hostile to Robert, no longer aware of Robert’s blindness, the narrator experiences the
possibility of change in his life.
Cathedral (short story) 2

Recognition
The short story "Cathedral" was included in Best American Short Stories, 1982. It is the final story in Carver's
collection Cathedral (1983). With its publication Carver finally received the critical praise he had longed for.
"Cathedral" is generally considered to be one of Carver's finest works displaying both his expertise in crafting a
minimalist story and also writing about a catharsis with such simple story lines.[citation needed]

References

External links

Adaptations
• Short Film Based on Raymond Carver's "CATHEDRAL" (http://vimeo.com/20320807)
Article Sources and Contributors 3

Article Sources and Contributors

Cathedral (short story)  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=595915297  Contributors: Allens, Andonic, ArdClose, AshcroftIleum, Auric, Closedmouth, Cuchullain, Fayenatic
london, Fratrep, Gareth Griffith-Jones, Grebmar, GregorB, Ike9898, J.delanoy, JStripes, Kevinalewis, Mac Davis, Mpleva00, Mrsdapenglish, NatureBoyMD, Paulrudd212, Senator Palpatine,
Sirkablaam, SummerPhD, Tassedethe, Tizio, Truthanado, Victoriaearle, Willie Stark, 66 anonymous edits

License
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