Write a Note on the Significance of the Symbols Used in “Cat in the Rain.”

Answer

Write a note on the significance of the symbols used in “Cat in the Rain.”

“Cat in the Rain” is a short story written by American author Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961). Published in 1925, it is a brief yet powerful narrative that explores themes of isolation, unmet desires, and the search for fulfillment. The story is set in a hotel on the Italian coast where an American couple is staying.

Several symbols are present in “Cat in the Rain,” each contributing to the overall atmosphere and thematic depth of the narrative:

The Cat: The Cat is a central symbol in the story and represents the American wife’s unfulfilled desires and yearnings for something more in her life.

I’m going down and get that kitty,’ the American wife said.

The cat becomes a metaphor for the wife’s feelings of emptiness and the need for a meaningful connection or change. Her desire to possess the cat reflects her desire to have a baby. She says to George,

Anyway, I want a cat,’ she said, ‘I want a cat. I want a cat now. If I can’t have long hair or any fun, I can have a cat.

The Rain: The constant rain in the story serves as a backdrop and intensifies the emotional atmosphere. It symbolizes the emotional “rain” in the characters’ lives and their discontent. The rain creates a somber mood and mirrors the characters’ internal struggles and the sense of isolation.

His wife was looking out of the window. It was quite dark now and still raining in the palm trees.

The War Monument: The war monument in the public garden represents a distant, unresolved past. It stands as a reminder of historical events.

Their room was on the second floor facing the sea. It also faced the public garden and the war monument.

The War Monument represents a dark symbol, representing the emotional distance in the couple’s relationship.

The Hotel: The hotel itself, with its emptiness and detachment, reflects the characters’ emotional state. It represents a temporary and unfulfilling environment.

The American Wife’s Hair: The wife’s desire to change her appearance by letting her hair grow represents her quest for personal transformation and a desire for change.

And I want it to be spring and I want to brush my hair out in front of a mirror and I want a kitty and I want some new clothes.

‘Oh, shut up and get something to read,’ George said

The discussion about her hair reflects her dissatisfaction with her current identity and a yearning for a more fulfilling and authentic life. It also shows us that she is dominated by her husband, George.

The Padrone: The hotel keeper’s actions, particularly sending a cat to the wife, represent an attempt to fulfill the wife’s desire. The cat, in this context, becomes a temporary solution to her emotional needs. The Padrone serves as a foil to the American husband, George.

The hotel keeper shows respect to the American wife. The American wife feels important, perhaps for the only time in the story. Hemingway uses this character to show us what George should do with his wife.

Hemingway’s use of symbols in “Cat in the Rain” adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to explore the characters’ inner lives and the complexities of human desires and relationships. The story invites interpretation and reflection on the universal themes of longing, dissatisfaction, and the search for meaning.