"For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in

part; but then I shall know even as I am known" (1 Corinthians 13). The narrator

of Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" is a man living a life of monotony, continuously

feeding the cold and bigoted mind that we witness for the first part of the

story. The process of guiding Robert through the drawing of the cathedral,

removes the narrator from that dark looking glass and initiates a tranformation

in which he is compelled to meet himself face to face; this awakening stirs the

narrator's humility, imagination, and faith.

It is human nature to embrace preconceptions regarding the facets of daily life,

from politics to people. It is, as well, innate to consider oneself better than

another. An awakening such as the narrator's, however, ruptures the protective

shield that surrounding steadfast biases, and forces the person to assess their

position in the greater schema of humankind. A bias that surfaces early on, is

the mention of Robert's wife, "Beulah!" The narrator exclaims, "That's a name

turn into a humble, imaginative and faithful human being.

adopting the same faith that comes so easily to the generations building those

to a simple name, he exhibits the precise indiscretion of a closed-minded bigot,

glasses were a must for the blind." (183) However, the narrator sheds these

"use a cane and he [doesn't] wear dark glasses, [having] always thought dark

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1342
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)