Good thesis statements for “Cathedral” could relate to the likability of the narrator, the importance of technology, or the power of art.

A thesis statement for a work of literature is typically an opinion. A reader forms a perspective or an idea about a given text and makes their point through a thesis statement. To establish their opinion, they then pull examples from the work. Usually, the point of a thesis statement isn’t to issue a foolproof, irrefutable statement but to clarify what one took away from the piece.

With “Cathedral,” one might have formed an idea about the significance of technology, so a thesis statement might read: Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral” showcases the importance of technology. This is an opinion, and to prove it or show its validity, talk about the centrality of the audio tapes. The narrator’s wife and Robert send tapes back and forth, which makes them close and seems to annoy the narrator.

Without the tapes, the story is missing a big component. Of course, tapes are a type of technology. Minus the machines to record and play the tapes, they wouldn’t be possible. Another key technological invention is the TV. While watching TV, Robert and the narrator start to bond. Robert tells him, “I am comfortable.”

The TV shows a cathedral, which leads to the next possible thesis. One might argue the following: In “Cathedral,” art has a mysterious power. The narrator’s wife creates art because she writes a poem after Robert touches her face. The narrator helps Robert make art since they draw a cathedral together. In both cases, the art arguably tries to capture intangible but profound moments.

Another thesis relates to the narrator’s likeability. One might say something like the following: The narrator starts unlikable but ends up to be decent. To argue that the narrator isn’t likable at first, one could point to the possessive, condescending tone he takes with his wife. He doesn’t give her a name, seems jealous of her relationships, and dismisses her art. About her poem, he says, “I admit it’s not the first thing I reach for when I pick up something to read.” By the end, as the narrator and Robert draw together, he might have redeemed himself.

Other theses could relate to the story’s voice, tone, or style. One might argue that the story is told in a plain voice, with a blunt tone, or in a threadbare style.