Blindness in Emergency by Denis Johnson & Cathedral by Raymond Caver

Emergency by Denis Johnson and Cathedral by Raymond Caver are both stories in which the narrator is essentially "blind" to the world. While the narrator in each short story has ability to see, each lives in their own unique oblivion, blinded by their own beliefs. Yet it is through this "blindness" that the main characters realize their own flaws, thus regaining "sight".

In "Emergency", the narrator lives a very nonchalant, meaningless life, yet he does not realize the lifestyle he lives. Being blinded by his own beliefs, it takes his experiences with Georgie, his coworker, to realize his flaw. After taking numerous medications that were stolen from the hospital, Georgie and the narrator begin to drive around the city. It is during this time that the two come across an LSD guru. Although the narrator and Georgie are also high, it is the guru who "this extraterrestrial" (Johnson 77) as if he was the only one with a problem. Although the narrator realizes the amount of LSD he consumes is significant, he does not realize the extent that the drugs influence his life. As Georgie and the narrator continue to take more drugs, the narrator begins to focus his thoughts on Georgie. At one point, the narrator asks Georgie if he is "completely blind" (Johnson 77). The narrator begins to note a difference between him and Georgie, again seeing the other person as the one with the problem. However, as the day progresses, the narrator begins to realize that he might not be the normal one after all.