Cathedral

I was really interested in why the story spent so much time explaining the background of mostly the wife, and some of Robert. The story would have been completely different if it hadn't given such information. I think that I could connect with the characters in the story more effectively knowing their background. I had compassion of what his wife had been through and why she might hold onto friendship that was so dear to her. She hadn't had much stability in her life and Robert had always been the one constant. It was important to know this info because it gave you all points of view. You could gather opions about the characters, even though it was the husbands narration. It gave you insight to how the husband might view Robert in the situation of meeting him and had you anxious to meet him. Knowing this info made me want to care about them and continually read. I personally think the background was intrumental to the characters and that the author did well to put it in there. It is always good to read a story that gives full understanding of the characters and their niches.