Being able to relate to people can often times be a huge problem. In both Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral”, and James Baldwin’s’ short story “Sonny’s Blues” the main focus of the stories is realization. In both stories the main characters are challenged with situations in which the must break free of their judgments. In both stories it takes the assistance persons that the main characters do not understand to change their views.
The main character in cathedral Bub, believes himself to be blessed with two functioning eyes without ever realizing his lack of vision. The narrator’s eyes are extremely biased and insecure. The narrator seems to have an unhappy and insecure approach to everyday life. By treating everyone generically and denying their importance, the narrator is trying to make himself seem more important in the lives of others. His constant referral to Robert as the blind man shows that he views Robert as unequal. By doing these things Bub has alie
nated himself from those around him.
In both stories the narrators have distanced themselves, and judged the other characters. It takes a momentous event in both stories for the characters to finally give up their judgments and reconsider their views. In Cathedral Robert helps the narrator find the ability to let go of his prejudices, jealousies and expand his limitations. The blind man helps the narrator to see. The revelation is brought about by the experience of drawing the cathedral with Robert. In drawing the cathedral together, the narrator opens up to new possibilities. “Never thought anything like this could happen in your lifetime, did you Bub.”(108). this quote shows the narrators limited view on life. The blind man made this statement because he senses some kind of jealousy, and insecurity within Bub. The limitations that were holding the narrator back were eliminated through an act of compassion from Robert.
In the beginning of Sonny’s Blues when the narrator finds out that Sonny has been arre
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