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Setting: Narrator and his wife's house in New York

Robert coming from dead wife's house in Connecticut

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The story opens with the narrator expressing discomfort about his wife’s blind friend, Robert, coming to visit. The narrator's insecurities and prejudices about blindness set the scene for the story's exploration of perception and understanding.

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The beginning sets up the narrator's insecurities well, allowing for a conclusion of greater impact as the narrator is able to learn new perspectives.

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As the evening progresses, the narrator and Robert share a moment over a televised documentary about cathedrals. Despite initial discomfort, the narrator finds a unique way to connect with Robert, leading to a significant shift in his understanding of perception.

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The narrator attempts to describe a cathedral to Robert but struggles with verbal communication. They end up drawing a cathedral together, with Robert’s hand over the narrator’s. This act becomes a metaphor for shared understanding and the breakdown of barriers.

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By the story's end, the narrator experiences an epiphany. As he continues to draw the cathedral with his eyes closed, under Robert's guidance, he begins to 'see' in a way he never has before. This moment encapsulates the theme of seeing beyond the physical and understanding others' perspectives.

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"So we kept on with it. His fingers rode my fingers as my hand went over the paper. It was like nothing else in my life up to now.

Then he said, 'I think that's it. I think you got it,' he said. 'Take a look what do you think?'

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.

'Well?' he said. 'Are you looking?'

My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn't feel like I was inside anything.

'It's really something,' I said."

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"Well?" he said. "Are you looking?"

My eyes were still closed. I was in my house. I knew that. But I didn't feel like I was inside anything.

"It's really something," I said.

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The conclusion helped to bring up the idea of looking vs. seeing.

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The wife becomes put off/jealous as the narrator and the blind man begin to connect, first over smoking cannabis and then through the cathedral.

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"And then I found myself thinking what a pitiful life this woman must have led. A woman whose husband could never read the expression on her face, be it misery or something better. Someone who could wear makeup or not - what difference to him? She could, if she wanted, wear green eye-shadow around one eye, a straight pin in her nostril, yellow slacks, and purple shoes, no matter."