Cathedral Essay -- essays research papers

The protagonist in Cathedral, Bub, is a man who has several defining characteristics. Bub is insecure, insensitive, and ignorant. This is clearly shown in Bubs relationships with his married charr and Robert. Bubs insecurities are blatantly shown when he comments on his married womans ex-husband Her tallyicer-why should be have a name? He was her puerility sweetheart, and what more does he want?Bub resents the ex-husband for being his wifes first love. He would have liked to have had that role so he negatively addresses his wifes past relationships. Bubs unconfident mannerisms further transpire when he comments on his wifes relationship with Robert. He statesIn magazine she put it all on tape and sent the tape to the blind man. Over the years she put all kinds of stuff on tapes and sent the tapes off lickety-split. Next to writing a poem every year, I think it was her chief recreation. On the tape, she told the blind man shed decided to live onward from her officer for a time. On another tape she told him about her divorce. She and I began going out, and of course she told her blind man about it. She told him everything, or so it seemed to me.This glowing friendship between his wife and Robert further exacerbated his insecurities. Robert and his wife have an intimate relationship that Bub has never, and probably will never, have with his wife. He goes on to sayMy wife finally took her eyes off the blind man and looked at me. I had the feelings she didnt like what she saw. I shrugged.This relationship offers Bub only one consolation, he believes that because he can see that has an advantage. He constantly refers to Robert as the blind man. He never uses Roberts name or assigns any human attributes to him. This insecurity is part responsible for his wifes continued involvement with Robert. Also responsible for his wifes close relationship with Robert is Bubs inability to feel. He exhibits a great lack of emotional depth. Bub comments on Roberts marriageThey d married, lived and worked together, slept together-had sex, sure- and then the blind man had to bury her. All this without having never seen what the goddamned woman looked like. He has no feelings of sympathy for the loss of Roberts wife. Bub goes on to comment about his wife telling him exactly happened to Roberts wife. He says, My wife make full me in w... ...s his freedom from his sheltered and close-minded life.The overall themes of the story were alienation and loneliness. The main characters experience, and have experienced alienation and loneliness. Bub is discontented in his work, envious of his wife, and disjunct from other human beings and also from himself. Because of this, Bub resents his wifes connections with other people. Keening this in mind, Bub makes no effort to correct this problem. When Robert arrives he makes to attempt to engage him in conversation. He prefers to remain cut off and observe. As the conversation breaks, Bub turns on the television, which i s not only extremely impolite, but one that offers proof of Bubs detachment with his wife and her friend.The story demonstrates an interesting sort of irony. The disability that Bub condemned and presupposed was in fact a handicap that he had himself. He was emotionally blind. Robert assisted Bub in overcoming those traits that were keeping him from experiencing the just about wonderful things in life. This freed Bub from his insecurities, ignorance, and insensitivities. He was then capable of truly seeing.