Cat in the Rain

Ernest Hemingway is one of the greatest and most influential American writers who won
the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. He got famous as the writer of the lost generation
ˈcharacterized by lost values, lost belief in the idea of human progress, and a mood of futility and
despair after the First World War.
The story I am going to interpret – ‘Cat in the Rain’ – is illustrative of this. The action
takes place in an Italian hotel in the post-war period, having as the main characters a young
American couple. On a rainy day, looking out of the window the American wife sees a cat hiding
under one of the dripping tables. She feels sorry for the cat and decides to rescue it. While her
husband George is reading a book, the woman goes downstairs to find the cat, but it is no longer
under the table. Feeling extremely disappointed, she comes back into her room. George is still
lying on the bed and reading a book. In order to attract his attention, the American woman starts
expressing her desires to have something that will make her life meaningful like a cat, long hair,
new clothes and other things. However, the husband does not seem to care much about his wife’s
wishes. The story ends with a maid knocking at the door and holding a tortoiseshell cat for the
American woman.
To my mind, the general idea of the text is that people can feel emotional distance even
from those with whom they are supposed to be the most intimate. As a rule, feeling emotional
distance from your partner really hurts. Nevertheless, the needs for love and close emotional
connection remain strong, that is why people look for such connection anywhere - even if they
should turn to a poor cat caught in the rain.
Speaking about the text stating, it presents a piece of narration with the elements of
description, a psychological portrait of the main characters (the American wife and her husband
George), and the characters’ dialogues. The setting is mainstream since it is realistic and the
location is close to life, and ˈintegral because it plays a great role in the story.
According to Freytag pyramid, the text under study can be divided into several logically
connected parts. The story begins with the description of the hotel where an American couple is
staying. At first sight, everything seems to be ideal: a cozy room on the second floor, a lovely
view from the window and so on. However, the American wife and her husband have to be stuck
inside the hotel room because of heavy rain at the moment. The author points out that there are
no artists painting in the garden, as there would be in good weather, and adds that the square
outside the hotel is empty - no cars can be seen anywhere. The setting itself mirrors the isolation
of these two characters.
 The rising action starts when the woman sees a poor cat crouching under the table in the
rain, so she decides to protect it. In this part the readers get acquainted with George who is lying
on the bed and reading. He is obvious to have no desire to go out in such weather for the cat his
wife wants so much. Although he proposes it but sooner out of politeness and he does not insist.
It helps us to understand that the American wife and her husband are isolated not only from
people around them, but also from each other.
Then the American woman goes down to the street to get the kitty, but it has suddenly
disappeared. The climax starts when she goes upstairs in her room and complains her husband
about the things she needs. It intensifies the tension between them and has a reason for a scandal.
The most powerful moment in the story is when she starts to require a cat from him. George asks
her just to shut up and get something to read.
In the falling action the woman clearly understands that a miracle will not happen in their
relationship. However, the atmosphere shifts to more promising tone in the moment when she
sees the light of the candle. Also there is a knock on the door and the maid stands there holding a
cat, for the American woman, in her hands. So, at the end of the story she is given hope that will,
probably, inspire her to move forward. 
Set on a rainy day in Italy, “Cat in the Rain” has an atmosphere of isolation, cold and
loneliness. It is rainy and gloomy outdoors. Moreover, the streets are empty and there is not a
living soul. The war monument in front of the hotel attracts the readers’ attention, and it is
mentioned purposely. The war must have finished not so long. And we can’t deny that the author
masterfully describes the post-war generation in order that the readers might understand the
feelings of that time. The American wife and her husband George belong to it. Well, it seems
that George took part in that war so he looks so tired of it and just prefers a peaceful rest near the
sea. While his wife is unable to live like this, that’s why we can compare her to the cat in rain
who is trying to find a place where it will be warm.
The story is written in the third-person narration. The author is not the character of the
story and he is not involved in the plot. But the story is reflected through the prism of his mind.
He gives a skillful portrait of the main characters (the American wife and her husband George),
and the minor characters (the hotelkeeper and the maid).
Speaking about an American couple, it is evident that the wife is a protagonist while her
husband is an antagonist of the story. There is an external conflict between them as the wife
suffers from the lack of attention. Her husband is indifferent towards her wishes and doesn’t pay
any attention to her at all. Moreover, there is an internal conflict inside her soul because she
wants to be valued and tries to fill the emptiness in her life with other people or things but she is
rather helpless.
 That’s why she really appreciates the hotelkeeper’s attitude towards her. He gives the
American woman an opportunity to be desired. To describe her emotions, the author uses
repetition «She liked the deadly serious way he received any complains. She liked his dignity.
She liked the way he wanted to serve her. She liked the way he felt about being a hotel-keeper.
She liked his old, heavy face and big hands». When she faces the hotel keeper she feels that she’s
very young and full of blossom. It explains that she wants to be with a man who can protect her
and take care about. Yet her relationship with the hotel-keeper is impossible and is ultimately
characterized by distance. He is the owner of the hotel and it is his duty to take care of his
clients, especially if they are foreigners.
Despite this fact, she realizes the importance of being needed in life so this cat gives her
an opportunity to change the situation. So, the wife starts bursting out into cry when George
ignores her. The author highlights repetition in her speech «I want it so much, she said. I don’t
know why I want it so much. I want that poor kitty». Certainly, she knows what she wants to get.
She is obvious to be looking for freedom in order to change her life completely. I think their
marriage won’t last long.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that the author raises an important problem of loneliness of
partners in their marriage. I totally agree with the author’s position. I think that if he or she does
not get any kind of support or love from their partners their marriage will end in divorce.