Question

Discuss how the narrator's initial feelings about the blind man and his treatment of the blind man reveal problems in his relationship with his wife and even himself.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Even though your question does not mention the book or story which it concerns, we may assume it is about the short story "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, since the three characters in the story are the narrator, his wife, and her blind friend.

The narrator's initial feelings toward the blind man, Robert, are permeated with prejudice. He sees himself as superior simply because he can "see". He thinks of Robert as an incomplete man, a man who cannot be happy nor make a woman happy. He treats Robert as if his presence were an nuisance, as if a blind man were the worst company one could have. He also thinks it is an absurd for Robert to have a full beard and not wear dark sunglasses, just like a normal non-blind person.

We can quickly tell the one who truly has an impairment is the narrator himself. He certainly can see with his eyes; he is not physically blind. But he cannot go beyond that. He does not truly "see". Robert knows the narrator's wife much better than the narrator does. Robert sees more, because he listens, because he learns, because he is willing to not judge. The narrator's relationship with other people and even himself is one of appearances, shallow and judgmental.