Author Archives: Susan

I’m afraid I’ve gotten caught up in close-reading this story as a literary critique rather than focusing mainly on the aspect as a lesson in writing so I thought I’d end this series with that alone. Written in first person … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This final scenario, that of the narrator allowing Robert to lead him in drawing an image of the cathedral signals a dawning realization upon the narrator to open up to experience and allow learning and understanding beyond his own self. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It seems I can’t read through two pages–or often just a single one–without finding something… The narrator finds himself woefully unable to describe the cathedral to Robert.  In his attempts, he brings in religion: "They’re really big," I said.  They’re … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Been wondering why the title of the story is Cathedral?  Well we’re about to find out. With Robert and the narrator mellowed by food, drink, and pot and  "listening" to the TV, we are given the setting up of the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Some notes first.  Robert takes to calling the narrator "bub" which is common, but also could be a power play.  In any event, names (labels?) are an important theme in this story. When the wife comes back down, she smokes … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I know, I said that these pages weren’t necessary to story…but they’re so good that they do indeed add to it. The narrator assumes his duties as host, offering Robert a drink.  Here they attempt a tentative social bonding over … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Cripes–I’m only on page 3–and there’s so much to go into that I’m going to have to drop some of the lesser points. The visit begins with tension: So when the time rolled around, my wife went to the depot … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Even as I believe the basic character flaw–and that which is to be overcome to form story–is not so much bias against the blind man but rather the narrator’s feelings of exclusion from a portion of his wife’s life (and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As I said, I could likely have gone from those two first paragraphs to a conclusion, and the thought of a dozen pages in between seems extraneous, but there is a subtlety about Carver’s story that make the reinforcing of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I realize that the whole story has really been told in these first two paragraphs–all but the resolution.  The following twelve pages simply expand the narrative to the ultimate conclusion: how he is changed to overcome his prejudice and resentment. Continue reading →