Note to the Reader
"Cathedral" is extremely light on symbols, imagery, and allegory. So, don't worry if you're having some trouble coming up with anything. In a postmodern work, the surface is often the most importan...
Drawing the Cathedral
As noted in "What's Up With the Ending?" Carver insisted that there is nothing symbolic about the two men drawing a cathedral. It isn't "a metaphor for art" (source). Some readers might f...
Beulah and Robert's Ten-Peso Coin
For Robert, the coin is a symbol, and it's a symbol of the relationship he had with Beulah. It's a symbol because it represent things beyond monetary value, and only has value to Robert in light of...
Tapes, TV, and Movies
The tapes function similarly to the coin – they are substitutes for the real thing. Powerful substitutes yes, but still substitutes. At one point in the evening, Robert says to the narrator's...