Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover

In Raymond Carver's "Cathedral" a man's wife has invited an old friend/boss of hers to stay with them for a while.  We soon find out that the man (Robert) is blind.  The husband has preconceived notions about the blind man. He expects the man to be wearing sun glasses, to be a non-smoker and a non-drinker.  He is also unsure of how to act around Robert.  He is unsure if he should turn the T.V. or help him at the dinner table. After a bit the husband and Robert are watching a television show about Cathedrals and Robert asks if the husband could describe one to him. The husband is not very good at this so Robert decides that they will draw one together.  After this scene the husband has finally realized that Robert is like any other human being and connects with him.  Throughout the story Robert doesn't wear sunglasses, doesn't need assistance, drinks alcohol, smokes cigarettes and marijuana. This proves all of the husbands stereotypes false.  This is a great example of how people often judge those who are different, when in reality they are exactly the same as everyone else. We are all humans, man or woman, and we should be treated as such no matter what we look like or how we act.