Communion: Chapter 2

Throughout the short story Cathedral, The author implements some of tactics discussed in Chapter 2 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor. The chapter focuses on the value and symbolic meaning of communion when displayed in a story. Not tradition communion that transpires within the walls of a church as a religious ceremony, but communion in the sense of people simply gathering to consume food and connect socials. The act of communion can layout how people feel about each other in a story and even foreshadow upcoming events within a story. Ultimately, people will not gather around a table and guzzle food with those they do not like, appreciate, or admire. The feasting around a table stands as a symbol of positive social interaction, as well as friendship. There are times in a story that people congregate upon a mea with their enemy, in due course trying to demise their company at the table, but again the table acts as a symbol of these people’s relationship.
The short story Cathedral applies these same ideas as the main character is forced to overcome his dislike of disabled, indifferent, or other people he feels inferior to himself, when his wife allows a longtime blind friend to come stay with them after the blind man’s lost his wife. As the husband confronts blind man, he is initially filled with reservation and rejection for the disabled man. Although after simply scarfing down a large meal, with no communication, the husband begins to recognize Robert’s actions. He admires Robert “as he used his fork and knife on the meat,” just as capable as any other person. The observation of this normal performance in this ordinary task creates new found respect in the husband for Robert. Ultimately, the husband overcame his divergence with the disabled man and became close friends with him, even partaking in evening ritual together.