Art Heals: An Analysis of Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral” in the Context of Dirty Realism

Authors : Mehmet Ali Kaya, Mukadder Erkan

Pages : 108-119

Doi:10.53568/yyusbed.1659444

View : 145 | Download : 164

Publication Date : 2025-10-01

Article Type : Other Papers

Abstract :The \\\"Cathedral,\\\" considered by many to be Raymond Carver\\\'s masterpiece, is a prime example of the dirty realist tradition because of its working-class milieu, simple language, and emphasis on everyday struggles. In the framework of dirty realism, this study looks at how Carver uses art as a transformational medium to analyze topics of human connection, prejudice, and loneliness. The blind individual in the short story exposes the narrator\\\'s metaphorical blindness while also challenging traditional disability narratives. By working together to draw a cathedral, Carver exemplifies the special ability of art to transcend communication and emotional obstacles that cannot be addressed by language alone. The cathedral drawing scenario provides a moment of transcendence inside this framework, despite the story\\\'s classic dirty realist components, which use minimalist prose to describe the harsh realities of modern existence. In addition to being a means of artistic expression, art may also be a therapeutic tool that promotes empathy, dispels prejudice, and allows for deep human connection. Through the use of close reading and thematic analysis, this study aims to advance Carver scholarship by bringing to light the conflict between the unadorned depiction of social reality in dirty realism and the transformative and healing power of art.
Keywords : Carver, “Cathedral”, Kirli Gerçekçilik, Sanat, Dönüşüm

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL