Unlocking the Mystery of Carver’s Cathedral
Raymond Carver’s Cathedral, at first glance, springs one spiritual impression and theme depicting the bareness and stark renderings of ordinary lives of people entombed in the states of change and of loneliness. Carver, on the surface, unveils the story of a discontented man whose meeting with the blind man creates a new point in life – a self-renewal. The blind man named Robert unexpectedly teaches the narrator some new ways of seeing unseen events. This view serves the term “cathedral” to cause critics and readers to integrate its revealing meaning. This disclosure about the truth may shock critics and readers that people have the abilities to change lives. Critics and readers may argue why Carver chooses cathedral as the title but will leave a pressing commentary why he does so. More than anything, Carver’s Cathedral suggests something else as this story reminds all people to see the truth about life, to be considerate with other people. Despite Carver’s decision why he chooses to title the story named Cathedral, his objective seems vivid to comment on people’s egotistic, prejudiced, and sequestered nature.
The cathedral, which highlights the ability to grasp beyond the surface to see the true meaning of things, epitomizes true sight. Carver intends to present the irony of the situations to think how Robert and the narrator contribute to “the symbol and the meaning of cathedral” (10). Based on the story, Carver guarantees the simple life of the narrator pointing out that Robert cannot see but that he can. However, Carver implies that Robert as the blind man gains all the wisdom, sentiment, and values. Compared to the narrator, Robert understands all people around him including their needs. On the other hand, the narrator did not realize at first. He only learns to open his eyes and feelings by the time he shares stories with Robert. This moment of realization helps the narrator feel guilty of his actions. In fact, Carver removes the drama and the unique style in story-telling by picking a simple language to focus on the vital details of the story:
“I reached for my glass. But it was empty. I tried to remember what I could remember. “You’re asking me are those frescoes?” I said (Carver 11).
His method of presentation using meek language concentrates on truthful accounts and implies rather than clarifies the issues of the characters. For example, Carver allows the blind man to stir the minds of the narrator to realize himself including his marital conditions and the cultures and the people in the community. Critics and readers may have numerous interpretations of the narrator’s actions, but they are certain that the narrator slowly sees and understands the meaning of life after asking Robert some questions. For the narrator, Robert as the blind man is capable of seeing beyond the naked eyes. Carver uses the term “cathedral,” which may be an inappropriate title, but he only wants to imply that people like the narrator need church and faith to see the value of human lives. It does not mean that the narrator fails to represent humanity at best, but he only represents a typical human being with their conflicts. With its simple language, Carver’s Cathedral creates a symbol of faith and truth.
Essentially, the term “cathedral” aids Carver to capture the most significant details about the frustration in modern life. His choice of plain language, his unique style in story-telling, and his focus to performing the tasks defines his motive and his plan to unfold human frailties in a subtle way. Even if the story holds various interpretations, Carver wants people to live their lives with faith and truth. Moreover, the chronicler of the story hires a conspiratorial nature to present his thoughts and experiences to the incidents in a particular time, devoid of manipulating the critics and readers’ minds. Carver’s use of the plain and simple language, even more, helps him build a sincere tone and voice. The narrator’s most unforgettable individuals are those who live on the edge of alcoholic self-destruction, seclusion, and shortage in which people feel the lacking sense of community. People, who do not care one another, demand a cathedral for them to find solace and comfort of the souls. It seems that Carver’s implied message ricochets around this context to kindle the hearts and the minds of the people to reexamine their religious faith. However, critics and readers cannot start definite meanings due to multiple interpretations. Though critics and readers vary their own versions to tell, Carver writes “Cathedral” only to describe what the modern society needs at present to define the future.
In the end, Carver’s Cathedral, regardless of the title, gives a rich element of realization for an internal change. Carver wants to give a picture of the blankness and unadorned version of the narrator whose state of private life traps them alive. He wants to expose how the up-to-date individuals are guilty of their actions and values and how they become ungrateful to live. For instance, the narrator’s disapproval against life and the presence of the blind man makes him become ignorant. His way of asking the blind man as if he knew what a cathedral was remained impervious. Such a question allows the narrator to excavate his conviction and understanding that life demands devotion and faith to survive. Robert has a deep view of life compared to the narrator’s shallow interpretation of the physical reality. In effect, Carver chooses to title the story “Cathedral” to suggest its epitome of the physical truth. For the narrator, he thinks he has all the advantage in life due to his physically healthy form. For Robert, physical realities do not matter as long as their beliefs and faiths generate a newfangled theme in life. As the narrator engages in a unique tactic of intimidating Robert, he never realizes that Robert himself, by chance, teaches him truths and values. More than anything, Carver’s Cathedral prompts all people to see the reality in life to stay away from selfish, discriminatory, and isolated.
Works Cited
Carver, Raymond. Cathedral. Vintage, 2015.
______________ . The Stories of Raymond Carver. London: Pan Books, 1985.
