Blind Humor: Analyzing the Source of Humor in Raymond Carver's "Cathedral"

Upon finishing Raymond Carver's intriguing and mesmerizing short story "Cathedral," one seems to find a variety of thoughts and emotions casually strolling through his or her mind as he or she becomes immersed in the relaxed reflection the story invokes. Using surprise, curiosity, intrigue, and confusion, "Cathedral" keeps the reader thinking and inquiring long after he or she finishes it. Yet, among the feelings listed above, there also lingers a certain humor that seems, in many ways, out of place. The subject matter and the characters seem to be more boring and bland than funny. So, therefore, by the end of our reflection, we are begging to know how a story about a man overcoming his prejudices against blind people can be so funny. On further examination, however, the answer does not seem so concealed and it appears that it is Carver's unique writing style and interesting plot that hold the key to that much-anticipated question.





First, Carver's writing style invokes this sense of humor through the relationship he develops between his speaker and the reader. Much like how one would have a funny, casual conversation with a close friend, Carver's writing attempts to make friends between the main character and reader by keeping the speaker's narration rather informal and relaxed. Using interjections, colloquial diction, and side comments, the author crafts both an informality and a close bond between the reader and the speaker while also injecting the element of humor into the story. One example of this is when our narrator finishes his descriptions of his wife's former marriage with "etc." Although quite subtle and obviously leaving us out on many details, the injection of this word enhances the casual tone of the narration and, by its illustration of the speaker's utter indifference to his wife's previous relationships, makes the reader laugh. Consequently, one gets a sense of the narrator not only as someone he or she is talking to, but also as someone who comes off as dry-witted and funny. In turn, this results in a deeper character understanding that allows the reader to appreciate the speaker's mannerisms more and as the story continues he becomes funnier and funnier. Thus, writing like this permeates "Cathedral" and, with the deeper understanding of the main character, makes the story's plot seem even funnier.

On the other hand, the other element causing the humor here is simply the plot itself. At first glance, the story's plot would not come off as very funny. Characterized by no change of setting and absolutely no action, "Cathedral"'s lesson of a lazy, judging, and un-happily married man learning to see a blind man as more than his lack of sight through drawing appears to the unsuspecting reader to be dry at best. After reading it, however, it becomes apparent that this dry subject matter is, in fact, why the story is so funny. In an ironic way, the story's bland subject matter juxtaposed with the interest and intrigue the reader has afterwards very much creates a situation that many can find humorous, as if to say, "did I just read a story about two guys, one blind, smoking dope and drawing pictures?" Yes, you did. Furthermore, the fact that the two men are casually smoking marijuana, drinking, and staying up late adds to the humor because, in American culture, those actions are often associated with laziness and lack of motion, but, since the story has no physical action, Carver is forced to make smoking and drinking the very action that drives the plot forward. This, combined with the speaker's dry wit and Carver's unique and talented writing style, causes the story to end up being quite funny while still provoking thought and effectively getting the main theme of the story through.


In conclusion, "Cathedral" is a remarkably funny short story and the humor, theme, and the way to the two are intertwined within truly show the incredible talent that Raymond Carver had as a writer. The story amazingly demonstrates originality and creativity, and is, all in all, a favorite read so far this year.