Characterization and symbolism in "Cathedral"

Characterization and Symbolism in “Cathedral”


“Cathedral,” by Raymond Carver is a short story about a blind man who is staying with at a friends house. The narrator’s wife met the blind man while he was in Seattle about to marry a man. She worked with the blind man all summer and they had became good friends. Carver uses Characterization and symbolism as some literary elements to explain his story. People who have to overcome obstacles have a greater desire to understand how the world is because nothing has ever been handed to them.
Carver uses many different types of characterization to show that Robert is willing and determined to learn anything he can by being persistent. The narrator informs the readers with some background information of Robert and why he is staying with the
family. The author also gives the reader some physical descriptions of the characters (508):
The blind man was late forties, a heavy-set, balding man with stooped shoulder...