In the the short story "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver, how do the personality traits of the two men in the story create dramatic tension? Give at...

In Raymond Carver's short story, "Cathedral," the two central characters, the narrator and Robert are opposite of each other in many ways--these ways create dramatic tension in the story. The narrator is jealous of Robert's relationship with his wife and this starts the story off on a tense note. Robert has a close relationship with the narrator's wife and this stands in contrast with the narrator's strained relationship with his wife. He also doesn't understand Robert's blindness so between his jealousy and ignorance, makes comments that are rude or offensive.

Robert, on the other hand, is kind, patient, and even-tempered. He recognizes the narrator's discomfort with him and doesn't have a problem with it.  While the narrator fumbles along through the story and at times, insults Robert, his even temperament makes the narrator's sarcasm fall short. The tension created between these two men culminates in a moment when they are literally on the same page, drawing a sketch of a cathedral. In this moment, the tension is dissolved as the narrator understands what it is like to be blind and vulnerable.