SHORT NOTE OF THE SHORT STORY "CAT IN THE RAIN" BY ERNEST HEMINGWAY

{SHORT NOTE}

CAT IN THE RAIN BY ERNEST HEMINGWAY

SHORT STORY:-

• Published in 1925 in early 20th centuary.
• After 1st world war.
• A very short story.
• Four main characters:- American couple, the cat, hotel keeper and the maid.

WRITER:-

• A novelist, short story writer, Journalist.
• Belong to lost generation of writers who wrote in the aftermath of the 1st world war.
• he won Noble Prize.
• foremost writer.

OVERVIEW OF THE STORY:-

1. Story take place on a rainy day.
2. couple vists to a hotel to spent their holidays.
3. The American wife sees a cat in the rain.
4. She decided to have it.
5. But cat was not there.
6. She goes back to her room with a dissapointment.
7. By the attention of the hotel keeper, he sent the maid when she went to look for the cat and now he sent a cat to her.
8. but the husband, George did not care of his wife's needs.
9. so, the writer compares two characters of George and the hotel keeper who pays the most attention towards the American lady. 
10. At the end , it is also clear whether the woman will be pleased or not by the new development

SETTING:-

1. Set in an Italian coastal resort.
2. The atmosphere in the confined space seems rather charged with the unspoken, udercurrents of the relationship between the American woman and her husband.

CHARACTERIZATION:-

1. Know very little about the American wife(not even her name).
2. she is fundamentally unhappy with the state of her relationship.
3. lack of intimacy between the couple.
4. CAT- A moment of distraction from the stalement of their relationship.
5. her husband,George is the potrayed as a self absorbed individual who does not want to engage with anyone except at a very superficial level.
6. Actually It does not appears that they are on holidays as the hotel is completely empty.
7. And it was raining
8. Although the wife finds a change in her life, the husband seems happy with this life style.

TECHNIQUES:-

• Sparse language
• Repetition of the phrase "I want a Cat"
• A noable lack of description
• No descriptive language or adjectives
• Iceburg technique
• conversational lines
• 3rd person narration
• central symbol- Cat / rain
• A subjective verb used to describe a character
• Visual imagery- place where the hotel, cat in the rain
• climax

1. One of the most important technique in this story is Hemingway's presentation of evets in the story in very sparse language
2. There is a notable lack of description or descriptive language and adjectives
3. no any emotional status of their speak.
4. theory of omission- Iceburg technique.
5. It is possible that perspective which is highlighted that of the American woman. For an example; what is privilaged is her view of the hotel owner and not that of the husband.
6. Rain is alsoused as a central symbol - rain often suggest fertility and growth. however, In this case, the rain has actually led to isolation and a ack of connection. "the motor cars...the empty square"
7. Rain-Wife's sympathetic reaction to the cat which leads to her attempt to articulate her desires.
8. At the end of the story, writer maintains the quintessential element of a surprise ending.
9. climax - Arguement with the Wife's declaration of a different vision of her life and his clear rejection of her view
10. Is it infact that Cat that the wife saw?/ Is she happy with the appearance of the cat?/ Or did she ever want to find the cat in the first place? The story ends leaving the reader with the unanswered question.

THEMES:-

•  No communication between them.
• Lack of intimacy.
• They appears to have only a very superficial connection
• Very limited of emotional responses
• Importance of open and honest communication in a relationship

1. The husband does not show much interest in the wife and this lack of attention is evidenced by the fact that the wife is pleased when the hotel ownwer shows concern of her wellbeing.
2. Their emotions do not honestly engage with their feelings 

[WITH THE HELP OF THE RESOURCE BOOK]