Cat in the rain characterization. Cat In The Rain Marriage Analysis 2022-12-19
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In "Cat in the Rain," Ernest Hemingway presents the character of the American wife as a restless and unfulfilled individual. Throughout the story, the wife longs for something more in her life and is constantly seeking ways to escape the boredom and monotony of her daily routine.
One of the main characteristics of the wife is her desire for independence and adventure. Despite being married and living in a foreign country, the wife feels trapped and confined in her role as a wife and longs for the freedom to explore and experience new things. This is evident in her repeated mention of wanting to go out and see the town, as well as her fixation on the cat in the rain as a symbol of her own desire for freedom and adventure.
Another characteristic of the wife is her sense of isolation and loneliness. Despite being in a foreign country with her husband, the wife feels disconnected and alone, as seen in her longing for human connection and the lack of communication between her and her husband. This sense of isolation is further emphasized by the setting of the story, which takes place in a small hotel room, isolated from the rest of the world.
Throughout the story, the wife is also depicted as being unhappy and discontent with her life and her marriage. She frequently complains about the mundane nature of her daily routine and expresses a desire for something more exciting and fulfilling. This is evident in her fixation on the cat in the rain, which she sees as a symbol of the excitement and adventure that is missing from her life.
In conclusion, the character of the American wife in "Cat in the Rain" is portrayed as a restless and unfulfilled individual, longing for independence, adventure, and a sense of connection in her life. Through her actions and thoughts, Hemingway presents the wife as a complex and relatable character, struggling to find meaning and fulfillment in her mundane existence.
Characterisation of George from Cat in the Rain
Rain drips from the trees in the garden, on the beach, and on the war monument. The cat is a character in itself — or, we should say, herself, for the cat is gendered as female, identifying it implicitly with the wife in the story. Two Americans are staying at a hotel. It is raining outside and the wife observes a cat under one of the tables outside trying desperately not to get wet. The lasting presence of the Great War is apparent in the war memorial that people come to visit. The story is set in Italian coastal resort.
The wife is bored, and her boredom is doubtless exacerbated by the rain, which limits her potential activities further. Downstairs, she passes the office of the hotel-keeper, an old, tall, dignified Italian who rises from his seat at the far end of the room and bows when he sees her. He is more interested in his book than he is in her. She looks at the back of her head and neck. And yet her hankering for long hair suggests that she desires a more conventional and traditional feminine identity.
Literary Analysis Of Cat In The Rain By Ernest Hemingway: [Essay Example], 951 words GradesFixer
Nick Carraway, the narrator, seemed to be indifferent about marriage. Notably lack of description. Standing at her hotel window, the American wife looks out on this scene and spots a lone wet cat sheltering under a café table. Outside their hotel room, their view includes a war monument, which may represent the subtle battle being waged in their room. She battles with her internal and external conflict. Techniques Iceberg technique— Iceberg theory states that the deeper meaning of a story should shine through implicitly.
The cat was trying to make herself so compact that she would not be dripped on. Henrik Ibsen wrote this play back in 1879 when life was much more difficult. The wife continues to look out, noticing that the light has come on in the square. Life was not bad, but in those particular times women did not amount to anything, only their husbands would. The American wife ventures out towards the café with the maid holding the umbrella over her head. Mallard opinion is one of understanding and sympathy. This vision and ideal state are what women were trying to achieve during these times, to get equal treatment and for them to be dependent.
She looks at her profile—both left and right sides. He is old and very tall. The overcast, rainy weather gives a desolate aspect to the scene. Her longing for spring to arrive can be said to symbolise new life, and this, again, chimes with the idea that she is pregnant. Women were expected to stay at home in order to care for the children and keep the house clean for their husband.
The American wife stood at the window looking out. She wants new clothes. Otherwise, he spends much of his time reading his book and ignoring his wife. Her contradictory emotion of self-importance points to the confusion and upheaval she experiences as a result of the loss of the cat. George is so engrossed in his reading, does not pay any attention to her speech. Sources: Resource book provided by NIE. This disappointment is mirrored by the Italian maid, whose face tightens when the wife speaks to her in English.
However, she also seems to be quite bold and unafraid, laughing in the face of the American wife when she learns that she has gone out in the bad weather to look for a cat. She likes him not only because he is dignified, but also because he wants to serve her. Alternatively, there is a possibility that the wife is slowly realising that she is pregnant, and she sees the cat as being like her unborn child growing inside her. Yet, the surgery actually resulted perfectly. The wife appears trapped and constricted by her life, including her marriage — and perhaps by being in Italy, too.
The stillness and bleakness of the scene implicitly recall the destruction and desolation wrought on this landscape by the war, which is referenced through the war monument. They know no one there. She desperately tries to get the attention from the husband and she feels suffocated of her loss of freedom, choice and independence. As an American, she is removed from the conflict, unlike the Italians who have experienced the war firsthand and who come from a long way off to visit the monument. She needs to make her way to the right, and considers going under the eaves to protect herself from the rain. The American wife conjectures that the hotel-keeper has sent her. He is a representative character in lost American generation who do not like to settle down nor to have a family and babies.
