Raymond Carver delivers an intriguing look into the faults of one man in his story "Cathedral", and how someone completely unexpected influenced him. Carver's character that changes is predisposed to inane ideas of blind people in general. His prejudices are revealed throughout the story in his lack of empathy, and pathetic attempts at sarcastic sympathy, due to a lack of personal experience with the blind. His encounter with Robert, on the other hand, helps him transform from a man with sight, and little in way of an open mind, to a man who can truly see.
To understand transition of the husband in "Cathedral" it is necessary to understand the husband prior to meeting Robert. The man has no friends, according to his wife, and there is no attempt to dispute the comment. He does not attempt to understand things he knows little about, for instance, his wife tries to share her poetry with him. He didn't think much of it, but comments how he probably doesn't really understand it. It's interesting that this should be mentioned before meeting Robert, because it's very much the same attitude he has toward the blind before knowing a blind person, or even meeting one. He has little interest in his wife's relationship with Robert, and only once tried to get to know Robert through one of the tapes, yet the husband quickly took the opportunity to stop listening. He doesn't seem to care much for anything in his life or his wife's.
The husband puts so much validity into the visual, perhaps because of his own egocentric attitude. When discussing Roberts's wife, there is an inability to understand why they were together. The husband thinks she must have been pitiful for being with him, because he can't comprehend the love beyond sight. Taking into consideration the non-visual beliefs the husband had about the blind: they never laughed, moved slowly, and needed constant care and assistance, it is no surprise that he would think the relationship a little pitiful.
