Cathedral by Raymond Carver Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Cathedral by Raymond Carver - Essay Example Years before she and the narrator were married, his wife had a job as a reader and helper to Robert. She kept in touch with him by recording her thoughts and feelings onto tapes, a sort of auditory journal, which she would send to Robert on a regular basis. Robert would send tapes to her as well. The narrator feels threatened by this â€Å" I heard my own name in the mouth of this stranger, this blind man I didn’t even know!† While listening to the tape, they were interrupted, and the husband was relieved not to hear any more: â€Å"Maybe it was just as well. I’d heard all I wanted to.† His wife’s suicide attempt is related to Robert, who is a sort of father confessor to her. â€Å"Now this same blind man was coming to sleep in my house† the narrator says. â€Å"Maybe I could take him bowling† he tells his wife. She gets angry and tells her husband that the visit is important to her, and he will be a good host if she loves him. She say s she would do the same for him, but â€Å"you don’t have any friends.† Her husband’s isolation, both actual and spiritual, are shown in this statement. It is also illustrated by his need to party.