Sexy by Jhumpa Lahini

928 Words2 Pages

1. In Cathedral there is a blind man named Robert. I believe Robert was used to show just how blind or unaware the narrator is in regards to everyday insights such as general awareness of others thoughts and feelings and his own self-awareness. Simply put, there is more to discover than just what is on the surface, beneath that is where true understanding lies. The narrator remarks as soon as he meets Robert “A beard on a blind man! Too much, I say.” (Carver, 2013, p. 2682), and later “that the blind didn’t smoke…” (Carver, 2013, p. 2683). By doing this, the narrator shows just how ignorant he is about the various types of people. The interaction between the narrator and Robert allows the narrator to gain an insight into himself for the first time in his life.
Since the narrator is so unaware of the thoughts and feeling of others, he has an empty relationship with his wife. They coexist together, but they do not actually interact with each other. “My wife and I hardly ever went to bed at the same time.” (Carver, 2013, p. 2686), so the narrator was “glad for the company.” (Carver, 2013, p. 2686). After the epiphany the narrator had while drawing the cathedral with Robert, I believe he and his wife will have a better relationship. The narrator will not be quite as jealous of her relationship with Robert, and he may even take the time to listen to future tapes with her as well. I think the narrator will pay more attention to his wife and what she is really saying in their future conversations. By doing this, the narrator will become better acquainted with his wife; and they will no longer coexist, but they will participate in activities together. The epiphany the narrator had will also increase his self-awareness. Once he is more a...

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... times before the relationship is over. Miranda was lonely, and looking for a way to fill that loneliness, and she chose a poor way to do it. Although, she was happy while it lasted. Maybe this will help her to look for a relationship that is fulfilling and socially acceptable now that the unacceptable one is over. It is unfortunate that both women feel badly, and end up alone.
Word Count: 813

References
Carver, R. (2013). Cathedral. In N. Baym, W. Franklin, P.F. Gura, J. Klinkowitz, A. Krupat, R.S. Levine, . . . P.B. Wallace (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature (Shorter 8th ed.) (pp. 2679-2689). New York, NY: Norton.
Lahini, J. (2013). Sexy. In N. Baym, W. Franklin, P.F. Gura, J. Klinkowitz, A. Krupat, R.S. Levine, . . . P.B. Wallace (Eds.), The Norton Anthology of American Literature (Shorter 8th ed.) (pp. 2834-2849). New York, NY: Norton.

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