Cat In the Rain Ernest Hemingway Notes

Ernest Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain” •

1925: first printed in In Our Time written while Hemingway was living in France o His short stories however particularly those in In o Our Time  are consistently considered some of his finest efforts! not  auto"iographical  auto"iographical o  Hemingway claims #in a letter to F! $cott Fit%gerald& that the story was not  a"out  a"out his marriage to his first wife which was falling apart at the same time the story was written 'merican couple vacationing in an Italian hotel hus"and ( )eorge o wife has no name o o

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Summary Only two 'mericans are in the hotel! Their room faces the sea a pu"lic garden and a war monument! *any Italians come from far away to see the monument! That day it is raining and the 'merican wife is loo+ing out the window! $he sees a cat under a ta"le that is trying to +eep dry! $he tells her hus"and that she is going to get it! He tells her not to get wet! ,ownstairs she is greeted "y the hotel operator whose seriousness and willingness to please she adores! -hen she goes outside he sends a maid after her with an um"rella! $he does not find the cat! $he goes "ac+ upstairs feeling sad! $he as+s her hus"and if she should grow her hair out! He says that he li+es it the way that it is! $he decides that she wants a "un at the "ac+ of her nec+ and a cat to stro+e and a ta"le with her own silver and some new clothing! He tells her to shut up and to find a "oo+ to read! $he says that she still wants a cat! .ust then someone +noc+s at the door! It is the maid! $he has "rought up a cat at the re/uest of the hotel operator! Commentary The 'merican wife e0presses a desire for many things in this story! $he tells her hus"and that if she cannot have any fun then she might as well have things that she wants! In other words this desire for material goods comes from an ina"ility to ac/uire intangi"le goods such as fun and affection! This lac+ of intimacy is not entirely her hus"ands fault of course! $he also ignores his compliments! This American way  desiring material objects and becoming bored  is contrasted with an Italian way of vacationing! The Italians arrive in the same location to see the war memorial and honor the war dead! They are more involved in the ideas of the place than in owning things from it! In addition it is a more communal way of living to honor the sacrifices of others rather than to stay inside and read!  http:33www!spar+notes!com3lit3inourtime3section24!rhtml http:33www!spar+notes!com3lit3inourtime3section24!rhtml    66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 CAT: CAT = symbol • for Hemingway7 o for the wife7 o   pro8ection o a cat was crouched under one of the dripping green tables. The cat was trying to make herself so compact that she would not be dripped on! on!

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cat stuc+ in the rain with no"ody to care for  vulnera"le greatest fear curled up for protection sym"oli%es the wife who longs to "e loved

TRTISESHE!! CAT The term tortoiseshell cat refers to a coloration pattern caused " y a specific genetic trait! It is not a specific •  "reed of cat!

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The coats of tortoiseshell cats are a mi0ture of colors! Tortoiseshell coats com"ine black, white, red or  ginger  and occasionally silver or ginger ta""y patterns! The si%e of the patches can vary from a fine spec+led pattern to large areas of color! ;ats with a "asic white color and red and "lac+ patches are +nown as tortoiseshell6and6white or more commonly calico cats! The tortoiseshell coloration is a se06lin+ed trait! $e06lin+ed genes are those carried on the mammalian < chromosome "ut not the = chromosome! In cats the gene controlling the red color is carried on an < chromosome! The gene controlling "lac+ and other non6red colors is also carried on an < chromosome! $o a tortoiseshell is formed when you com"ine two < chromosomes one containing the red colors and the other containing the non6red colors!

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>ecause two < chromosomes are necessary for this particular pattern of coloration o"er ## $ercent o% tortoiseshell cats are females! In order for a male to "e a tortoiseshell he would need to have two < chromosomes! This condition is called ?linefelters syndrome and these males are almost always sterile !

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 http:33star+villeveterinaryhospital!com3newsletter!php 

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Tortoise shell cats in myths However the ?hmers of $outheast 'sia offer one interesting e0planation! 'ccording to their o fol+lore the first tortoiseshell arose from the menstrual "lood of a young go ddess "orn of a lotus flower during a magical ritual! Other fol+lore concerning the tortoiseshell include the following: 1& The ;elts considered it a good o omen if a male tortoiseshell stayed in their home 2& The @nglish "elieved that warts could "e healed if ru""ed "y the tail of a male tortoiseshells tail during *ay A& .apanese fishermen "elieved that male tortoiseshells protected the vessel from ghosts and storms B& $ome "elieve that having a tortoiseshell in ones dream gives that person luc+ in love!  o  A stray tortoise shell cat foretells bad omen   http:33www!0mission!com3Cemail"o03fol+lore!htm

Tortoiseshell cats were "elieved to "e a"le to see into the future and could give the gift to a luc+y child in the household! #same site& o In Dormandy seeing a tortoiseshell cat foretold death "y accident! #same site& o If you dream of a tortoiseshell cat you will "e luc+y in love! &urther symbolism : • o ;at ( female #pro"a"ly&  ( wi%e ;at ( male  sterility  ( husban' o  ThatEs why she doesnEt have +ids multi6colored o  no distinct pattern no "oundaries randomness ( 'mericans America( !ost )eneration • drifting nomadic no home o  ( America  the melting pot Sterility* in%ertility • void in marriage o  filled with pets toys material o"8ects unnatural o 66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 o

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no name 'merican girl lonely empty wants  wants  wants materialistic  child ( pet   pet ( child  something to ta+e care of   something to amuse her as she amuses her hus"and  something to fill her void emptiness loneliness materialistic OG lonely77 whiny OG starved for attention77

H,S-A./ )eorge o uncaring aloof  o letEs wife go out in the rain unprotected o cares more a"out his "oo+ than his wife o o thin+s she humorous her funny little ways  heEs amused "y her   as if sheEs a child pet heEs so used to her always wanting  wanting  wanting o  that he +nows this is 8ust another one of her little games or crusades  save the poor children homeless  cats in the rain shut & find something to read : o   patroni%ing humored "y her little ways7  humorously amusedly7

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cold indifferent7  #DOT  shut up & kiss me OG  shut up & come make love to me& -ill he let her +eep the tortoise shell cat7

0A/R.E o male o  "etter than the hus"and  doesnEt let the woman go out in the rain  gives her a cat  the simple things o doesnEt actually do anything  has the maid #girl& do it um"rella • tortoise shell cat •  se0ist7  no "etter than the hus"and7  good "usinessman ta+es care of a customerEs needs • sends maid out in the rain with um"rella • sends maid out in the rain to get a cat •  Italian vs! 'merican7 thoughtful caring • la%y unaffectionate •

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0A/R.E dignity will commitment attention to wife thoughtful serves3satisfies her needs #/uite easily& turns her on se0ually

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H,S-A./ no dignity will commitment indifference to the wife thoughtless ignores patroni%es her needs indifferent to her se0ually to her come6on

66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 /ESIRE: #desire  longing& for cat • for children • for material possessions • for se0 • for attention • for affection • for companionship • 66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 S12-!IS2:

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+ar 2onument: o honor respect self6sacrifice o death )ar'en: o nature life6giving o )arden of @den7 +ar 2onument in the )ar'en: o death  life mi0ed  sterility3infertility  miscarriage77  a"ortion77 o so far removed from the )arden of @den Rain: life6giving fertility o o  "ad weather #contrasts to good weatheron a vacation& Rain Coat: o  prophylactic  sterility3infertility o  padroneEs thoughtfulness vs! hus"andEs indifference Cats: o for Hemingway o for 'mericans #materialistic easily pacified ennui& o for the wife #longing to "e loved& o sterility3infertility cats vs! dogs: o  cats ( individualistic loners anti6social  dogs ( gregarious communal social Husban' 3 +i%e: 'merica 'merican -ay o human nature o  impulse to "e selfish petty self6serving indifferent materialistic  'G'>J@777777 0a'rone: Italy Italian3@uropean -ay o

I.&ERTI!IT1 S12-!S: garden w3war monument • rain coat • type of cat • hus"andEs coldness3indifference to her come6on lac+ of interest in se0 lac+ of passion •

66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 A.TI4A2ERICA. STR15: o 'merican ( negative o wife ( materialisticK wants  wants  wants never satisfied o hus"and ( aloof distant uncaring unaffectionate la%y o  people ( possessions

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child ( pet  wife ( pet the only 'mericans in the hotel materialistic childish impotent infertile7 'merican men ( la%y unaffectionate impotent 'merican women ( materialistic wanting lonely "arren discontented easily satisfied

A2ERICA. way o% li"ing*"acationing materialistic #ac/uisitive greedy selfish& o desiring material o"8ects o  then "ecoming "ored #ennui& o more more more o sel%4centere' selfish self6interested3a"sor"ed o $ur$ose to vacation not  to honor the sacrifices of o others interested in owning things from the place a more individual #selfish& way of living to stay inside and read o

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ITA!IA. way o% li"ing*"acationing not materialistic #altruistic giving serving& o no ties to o"8ects give as gifts o o"8ects ( tied to others o less to serve others o others4centere' gallant self6sacrificing o $ur$ose to see the war memorial and honor the war o dead interested in the ideas of the place a more communal way of living to honor the sacrifices of others o

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THER STRIES Say 1es arguments L something other than what theyEre L on the surface than what they seem o hus"and doesnEt get it o 0arable o% 0ro'igal Son  • o  para"le of human failings o lost in a far off land o close together "ut miles apart emotional3psychic disconnect o husban's 3 wi"es : #relationships& • Say 1es o 0ow'er o Story o% Hour  o Clo' 3 0ebble o 66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 6 •

!ITERAR1 THERIES A!!E)R1( 0ARA-!E: everything everyone ( sym"ol for something larger  •

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short concise message thematic

-I)RA0HICA!: his marriage to his first wife which was falling apart at the same time the story was written •  "itterness toward his mother, whom he viewed as selfish and domineering  • alienation disenfranchisement • His short stories however particularly those in In Our Time are consistently considered some of his finest • efforts! The ma8ority of these stories focus on Dic+ 'dams a protagonist often discussed as the /uintessential Hemingway hero and the first in the line of the authors M%ictional sel"es !M &E2I.IS2: treatment of women • o wife   patroni%ed condescended to  ignored indifferent to  infertility  desperate for attention  easily amused appeased  materialistic maid o  servant  out in rain w3wife  out in rain for cat infertility • o unnatural void empty o unfulfilled o HISTRICIS2: Jost )eneration • -orld -ar I • 0S1CH4A.A!1TICA!: $ro6ection • wife pro8ects her feelings onto the cat o  wife ( lonely feels unloved  wants  wants  wants  wants to "e ta+en care of   wants to ta+e care of someone3thing wants a child • child ( pet • o the cat is fine N goes off on its own  can ta+e care of itself N needs no protection o • • •

ennui transference sterility3infertility

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7,ESTI.S o o

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-hat is the state of their marriage as the story open s7 Is the tortoise shell cat the same one that was in the rain7  ,oes it matter7 -ill that satisfy the wife7  -ill she still want more7  ,oes she 8ust want  want  want7 #li+es to complain7& -ill )eorge let her +eep the cat7 -ill she want to +eep the cat7 -as it ever really a"out the cat7  see Say 1es ,oes the O shift from the wifeEs to the hus"andEs at the end  not the cat "ut a cat #he never saw it& @pilogue:  ,oes she +eep it ,oes he let her   ,o they stay together ,oes she cheat on him first chance  ,o they have children ;an they have children  ,o they wander aimlessly lost ,o they settle down