This short story was layered and kinda strange at first. Indifference and jealousy dominates the story in the beginning; told by the husband who chooses to leave the officer nameless and direct condescending comments towards the life of Robert and his initially unwelcome entry into his life. However, the story takes a turn when the dope is brought out and his wife falls asleep. In this drug induced stage, he and Robert become 'linked' through the explanation of the cathedral. Here the husband is finally able to transcend his norms and biases he originally possessed and 'see' from the eyes of a blind man, as shown by his thought "But I had my eyes closed. I thought I'd keep them that way for a little longer. I thought it was something I ought to do."
This story seems to have been designed to show the transformation of an individual through the catalyst of a non-desired experience. Originally I had issues with all the what I believed to be superfluous information about his wife's life in the beginning, but I believe Carver did this to help the reader see how self-centered and indifferent the husband really was.
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