Although the political and social situation affects her to the point of death, Fantine does everything in her power to keep control of her own life, as well as, her child's life. ... Eponine shows true bravery in this scene when she refuses the step down, "she stood with her back to the gate, facing the six men, all armed to the teeth looking like demons in the dark" (856). ...
The first publication of the short story "Cathedral" was in the March, 1981, issue of Atlantic Monthly. It was selected to appear in "The Best American Short Stories, 1982," and became the title story in the 1983 collection, Cathedral. This volume was very well-received by critics and readers alike, receiving nominations for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Many critics note a shift in Carver's work between the publication of What We Talk About When We Talk About Love and Cathedral, and many believe that Carver reached the zenith of his career with this co...
