SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 1
Download to read offline
Raymond Carvers Cathedral Essay
As with many short stories, Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" only has a few pages to develop his
main character and create a scenario he or she must learn from or achieve something from or
change because of. In such a short amount of space, word choice is integral in constructing a solid
impression of the characters and their personalities in the reader's mind. Carver's simple use of
language and sentence structure combined with his choice for point of view creates an intriguing
tone and believable character interaction.
This story, written as the thoughts of the narrator, is about an old blind friend of his wife's coming to
visit for the first time. The story focuses on the...show more content...
"I'm saying that at the end of the summer she let the blind man run his hands over her face, said
goodbye to him married her childhood etc., who was now a commissioned officer..."(218). Every
time this officer that is his wife's first husband comes up in the story, the narrator moves on to
other subjects quickly. This reveals a jealousy in him that is not plainly written in the story. It
allows the reader to learn about the narrator as he sets up the story. Because of this set up, the
reader is able to expect and easily see the narrator's jealousy as he is later introduced to the blind
man. He also omits names. The reader never learns the names of the narrator or his wife, though she
is frequently involved in the story. This allows the reader to focus on essential characteristics of the
character. The wife is merely the wife. The blind man is blind.
Choice of point of view can change the tone and entire meaning gained from a story. The tone of
this story would have been much different if it were written from the wife's point of view. She
would not have been seen as the static nagging wife stereotype, the husband himself would have
probably be viewed as unsupportive and a slacker, and the reader would have gained a better
understanding of who this blind man was. However, for the sake of the story, the importance of the
blind man is that he is blind. This is what is important to the narrator and this is what the
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

More Related Content

More from Paper Writer Services

More from Paper Writer Services (20)

Education Goals Essay
Education Goals EssayEducation Goals Essay
Education Goals Essay
 
Essay On Contracts
Essay On ContractsEssay On Contracts
Essay On Contracts
 
Essays On Stereotypes
Essays On StereotypesEssays On Stereotypes
Essays On Stereotypes
 
Essay About Veterans
Essay About VeteransEssay About Veterans
Essay About Veterans
 
Essay On Tolerance
Essay On ToleranceEssay On Tolerance
Essay On Tolerance
 
Conclusion Paragraph For Compare And Contrast Essay
Conclusion Paragraph For Compare And Contrast EssayConclusion Paragraph For Compare And Contrast Essay
Conclusion Paragraph For Compare And Contrast Essay
 
Reflective Essay On Group Work
Reflective Essay On Group WorkReflective Essay On Group Work
Reflective Essay On Group Work
 
What Is Leadership Essay
What Is Leadership EssayWhat Is Leadership Essay
What Is Leadership Essay
 
Need Help To Write An Essay
Need Help To Write An EssayNeed Help To Write An Essay
Need Help To Write An Essay
 
Essays On Stress
Essays On StressEssays On Stress
Essays On Stress
 
essay of air pollution.pdfEssay Of Air Pollution
essay of air pollution.pdfEssay Of Air Pollutionessay of air pollution.pdfEssay Of Air Pollution
essay of air pollution.pdfEssay Of Air Pollution
 
Critical Evaluation Essay
Critical Evaluation EssayCritical Evaluation Essay
Critical Evaluation Essay
 
Essays On Good Manners
Essays On Good MannersEssays On Good Manners
Essays On Good Manners
 
Spanish Inquisition Essay
Spanish Inquisition EssaySpanish Inquisition Essay
Spanish Inquisition Essay
 
Essay Cite
Essay CiteEssay Cite
Essay Cite
 
Grendel Essay
Grendel EssayGrendel Essay
Grendel Essay
 
Nursing School Essays
Nursing School EssaysNursing School Essays
Nursing School Essays
 
Traditional Food Essay
Traditional Food EssayTraditional Food Essay
Traditional Food Essay
 
Math Essay
Math EssayMath Essay
Math Essay
 
Beethoven Essay
Beethoven EssayBeethoven Essay
Beethoven Essay
 

Recently uploaded

Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptxSeal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
negromaestrong
 
An Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdf
An Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdfAn Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdf
An Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdf
SanaAli374401
 
Gardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch Letter
Gardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch LetterGardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch Letter
Gardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch Letter
MateoGardella
 
Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global ImpactBeyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
PECB
 

Recently uploaded (20)

Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
Ecological Succession. ( ECOSYSTEM, B. Pharmacy, 1st Year, Sem-II, Environmen...
 
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptxSeal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2024Final.pptx
 
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptxINDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
INDIA QUIZ 2024 RLAC DELHI UNIVERSITY.pptx
 
Key note speaker Neum_Admir Softic_ENG.pdf
Key note speaker Neum_Admir Softic_ENG.pdfKey note speaker Neum_Admir Softic_ENG.pdf
Key note speaker Neum_Admir Softic_ENG.pdf
 
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptxICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
ICT Role in 21st Century Education & its Challenges.pptx
 
microwave assisted reaction. General introduction
microwave assisted reaction. General introductionmicrowave assisted reaction. General introduction
microwave assisted reaction. General introduction
 
An Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdf
An Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdfAn Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdf
An Overview of Mutual Funds Bcom Project.pdf
 
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptxUnit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
Unit-IV- Pharma. Marketing Channels.pptx
 
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptxSOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT - LFTVD.pptx
 
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy ConsultingGrant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
Grant Readiness 101 TechSoup and Remy Consulting
 
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across SectorsAPM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
APM Welcome, APM North West Network Conference, Synergies Across Sectors
 
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activityParis 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
Paris 2024 Olympic Geographies - an activity
 
Gardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch Letter
Gardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch LetterGardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch Letter
Gardella_PRCampaignConclusion Pitch Letter
 
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdfClass 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
Class 11th Physics NEET formula sheet pdf
 
Código Creativo y Arte de Software | Unidad 1
Código Creativo y Arte de Software | Unidad 1Código Creativo y Arte de Software | Unidad 1
Código Creativo y Arte de Software | Unidad 1
 
Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global ImpactBeyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
Beyond the EU: DORA and NIS 2 Directive's Global Impact
 
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
How to Give a Domain for a Field in Odoo 17
 
Z Score,T Score, Percential Rank and Box Plot Graph
Z Score,T Score, Percential Rank and Box Plot GraphZ Score,T Score, Percential Rank and Box Plot Graph
Z Score,T Score, Percential Rank and Box Plot Graph
 
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdfHoldier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
Holdier Curriculum Vitae (April 2024).pdf
 
Mixin Classes in Odoo 17 How to Extend Models Using Mixin Classes
Mixin Classes in Odoo 17  How to Extend Models Using Mixin ClassesMixin Classes in Odoo 17  How to Extend Models Using Mixin Classes
Mixin Classes in Odoo 17 How to Extend Models Using Mixin Classes
 

Raymond Carver Essays

  • 1. Raymond Carvers Cathedral Essay As with many short stories, Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" only has a few pages to develop his main character and create a scenario he or she must learn from or achieve something from or change because of. In such a short amount of space, word choice is integral in constructing a solid impression of the characters and their personalities in the reader's mind. Carver's simple use of language and sentence structure combined with his choice for point of view creates an intriguing tone and believable character interaction. This story, written as the thoughts of the narrator, is about an old blind friend of his wife's coming to visit for the first time. The story focuses on the...show more content... "I'm saying that at the end of the summer she let the blind man run his hands over her face, said goodbye to him married her childhood etc., who was now a commissioned officer..."(218). Every time this officer that is his wife's first husband comes up in the story, the narrator moves on to other subjects quickly. This reveals a jealousy in him that is not plainly written in the story. It allows the reader to learn about the narrator as he sets up the story. Because of this set up, the reader is able to expect and easily see the narrator's jealousy as he is later introduced to the blind man. He also omits names. The reader never learns the names of the narrator or his wife, though she is frequently involved in the story. This allows the reader to focus on essential characteristics of the character. The wife is merely the wife. The blind man is blind. Choice of point of view can change the tone and entire meaning gained from a story. The tone of this story would have been much different if it were written from the wife's point of view. She would not have been seen as the static nagging wife stereotype, the husband himself would have probably be viewed as unsupportive and a slacker, and the reader would have gained a better understanding of who this blind man was. However, for the sake of the story, the importance of the blind man is that he is blind. This is what is important to the narrator and this is what the Get more content on HelpWriting.net