Perspectives in literature - Essay Example

Without the use of cannabis and alcohol it is unlikely that the two men would have connected with one another. Drinking and the use of drugs is a central theme in Carver’s Cathedral and becomes the underlying mechanic for the bonding between Robert and the narrator. The importance of drinking in Cathedral can be seen in the early aspects of the story, through the narrator’s habits and his outlook on life. The early aspects of the story make it clear that the narrator is dissatisfied with his life, and implies that drinking is part of the reason for his bitterness.

He describes the blind man coming to visit as being an event that he did not look forward to, and talks about being bothered by the man’s blindness. The narrators retelling of his wife’s friendship with the blind man is filled with bitterness and distaste, blaming the blind man for making him wait. Prior to the blind man’s arrival there are several mentions of the narrator drinking, which provides an indication that this is a significant part of his life. Further evidence of this comes from how soon he offers the blind man a drink and the amount of types that he has to offer.

Here, drinking is presented as a habit, but information is not given concerning if the habit is good or bad for the narrator. The use of drugs is the second aspect of the theme of alcohol and drug use, and this is not immediately evident when the story opens. Unlike alcohol, the use of drugs is presented as having a negative connotation. It is suggested that this contributes to the problems that the narrator is having in his life. The narrator mentions that he smokes each night, and does not go to bed at the same time as his wife.

These aspects provide a strong indication that, like the alcohol, the use of cannabis is having a strong impact on the rest of his life. These two impressions, the first of alcohol and the second of cannabis, are both negative. This can be further seen by the way in which the narrator’s wife reacts to him offering the blind man cannabis, as she gives her husband a ‘savage look’. The prevalence of alcohol and drugs in the first half of the story, coupled with the narrator’s unhappiness and the problems that he is having in his marriage present these items in a negative light, suggesting that they are destroying his life.

The theme of alcohol and drug use throughout Cathedral is negative only initially and as the story develops, a second aspect of the theme emerges. This is the fact that alcohol and drugs act as a social glue, reducing the barriers between the two men and fueling friendship. As the men share the cannabis, the narrator begins to let go of some of his negativity and subtle changes can be observed in the tone of the narration, and the narrator’s approach to “the blind man”. During this time, the blindness becomes less of a focus, and the narrator is not filled with the same anger and bitterness that it was previously.

Earlier in the story, the narrator could not mention the blind man without having some negative comment, however, at this point the narrator actively attempts to include Robert in what he is seeing on the television. It is at this point in time that the focus moves away from Robert being blind, and towards