Faith is something required for life as
we know it. For example, if I didn't believe in my legs to hold me
up, I would be afraid to walk. And if I didn't have any faith in the
person trying to convince me that I can walk, then I would not listen
to him. And then I would starve. It is this initial faith that
allows the speaker in Raymond Carver's “Cathedral” to follow
Roger's wisdom, and learn a way to help a blind man.
Raymond Carver's “Cathedral” is a
realistic scenario that centers around just a few powerful symbols,
and one man's brief lesson on what can be accomplished with the
integration of faith. In the exposition of the story, the speaker
makes clear his ignorance, and some of the things that make him
uncomfortable. He concludes his endurance through his wife's tape
with, “I'd heard all I wanted to,” letting his anxiety for what
came next on the tape move his attention on to the man ringing the
doorbell. The cathedral is something most readers recognize and
associate with something people put their faith in.
It is hard for me to imagine reading
this story, and understanding the importance of faith that the author
is trying to emphasize without the cathedral. For me, aware of the
benefits of hindsight, a number of other things might have worked,
such as a diesel engine, or a brick and a dead guy with a bloody head
wound (I realize that not many people have faith in violence, but I
can see the sense in having faith in the brick as a better weapon
than an empty fist). For me, a diesel engine would have worked
because, from my experience, diesel engines are reliable. But most
people haven't had the same experience with diesel engines that I
have. A cathedral is a more universal symbol of faith, and drives
home the author's point to a bigger audience.
The speaker describes his irritations,
knowing that it is possible to get over such uneasiness, but not
knowing how. In knowing this, the speaker initially puts his faith
in this little snippet of his intelligence, which proves the
speaker's capacity for faith all along. The speaker simply expanded
upon his own faith. For this situation (drawing the cathedral) to
take place, Roger must have faith in the speaker to have the capacity
to learn from him. This is a wide-reaching demonstration of the
importance of faith.
hello David, let me tell i agree with you but at the same time i don't let me tell you why..... he narrator is a man that has no faith, and without faith he could not do anything..... but his problem was somewhat different... it was not really move by lack of faith. his actual problem was his inability to communicate with his wife in many occasions he made comments such as "i didn't know what say" or "i didn't say anything" this cause him to become isolated, and lead him to his senseless life of alcoholism, and if he doesn't change his future seems pretty dark and dull.. hope this comment helps you to see the story in a different perspective.. good job .... man
ReplyDeleteGood point, but I think there are ways to solve problems like his distancing from his wife (call that my faith in confrontation). He could tell his wife when he doesn't know what to say, in which case it could be said that faith in his wife may lead to progress in solving that problem. I believe any step could be considered a positive one, depending on tolerance and level of extroversion. But if he doesn't take that part of the conversation any further with his wife, then it could be said that his logical intelligence is telling him to make that choice, and that she won't be able to help him, or it would maybe make matters worse. So in my opinion, that could still be called lack of faith. But ya, I think both your answer and mine are equally important links in the same psychological chain. Thank you for the input, it was helpful. :)
DeleteInteresting interpretation. I think faith was the theme in the story, however; there is an supporting detail than the cathedral. A cathedral represents the house of god, as most priests would say. I like to view it as an organized religious building, or an attraction to appease people when in question for their faith. But the people who built the place together represents faith. For instance, when the narrator shuts his eyes and draws a cathedral with the blind man, who at first is directly uncomfortable with the blind gentlemen,see's beyond his own ignoranceof treating people. yes,he was a sullen, rude man, but I think the blind man opened his eyes.
ReplyDeleteYa, Roger definitely has an effect on him. I like the way you worded it as "an attraction to appease people when in question for their faith." Thank you for the reply.
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