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Cathedral by Raymond Carver: Imagery
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But he didn’t use the word 'bored.' He said he was 'envious' of the early risers.
The use of 'envious' instead of 'bored' suggests a longing for normalcy and participation in the everyday life that the blind man cannot fully experience.
So he brought it over, put it in my hand, and closed my hand around it.
The act of the blind man guiding the narrator's hand symbolizes trust and the sharing of perception, bridging the gap between different experiences.
In the middle of the room, before the TV, the blind man and I began to draw.
The act of drawing represents an intimate collaboration and a bridge between the sighted and the blind world, symbolizing the narrator's opening to a deeper understanding.
I put in windows with arches. I hung great doors. I couldn't stop.
The narrator's engrossment in drawing the cathedral signifies becoming lost in the world of imagination and the possibility of transcendence without sight.
And his being blind bothered me. My idea of blindness came from the movies.
The imagery of blindness from the movies contrasts with reality, showing the narrator's initial ignorance and the stereotypes he holds.
His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now.
This tactile experience symbolizes guidance and the awakening of a new kind of understanding within the narrator, as he learns from the blind man.
The cathedral's huge! And it took hundreds of builders to build it!
The awe in reference to the cathedral's size and collaborative creation mirrors the narrator's realization of the vastness and complexity of human experience.
She told me he touched his fingers to every part of her face, her nose – even her neck!
The touch signifies a deep connection and intimacy that transcends visual perception, hinting at a different, yet profound, way of 'seeing'.
She asked if I was left or right handed. 'Right,' I said. 'Good,' she said. 'That comes in handy.'
The pun on 'handy' adds levity to the story and contrasts with the serious themes, highlighting the everyday moments shared between characters.
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