Cat on a hot tin roof in the rain
Hemingway has long been since the so-called 'champion' of 20th century literature, and it could be argued that he changed the way that people wrote in these modern times. However, he's just one fish in a writer's pond- should he not be subject to criticisms, like writers before and after the great Hemingway? Here's my review of his short story (did he write anything else?) cat in the rain. My review is not necessarily congenial, or structured in any specific order, it's mostly my immediate reaction; Gleaning off of the fresh ideas in my mind.
The idyllic scenery and confronting style of Hemingway could allude to something greater and possibly more sinister than a hotel in the Italian tropics. A pleasant afternoon degrades into something eye-opening or soul-sucking. It can’t ever just be “a nice day”.
Of course, in being American, the Wife (does she even have a name?) would naturally assume she’s of the utmost importance. The story is about her in every way, and makes it known her fondest dreams and desires. At least one of those wishes comes true in the end- the desire for a living, breathing thing. It’s revealed that the padrone, or senior servant, sent the maid with the fantasy dream-fufillment cat to the wife, the same padrone she was described as “liking so much”. However, all I’m thinking of is, “Man, this George guy got cuckolded by a cat”
Hemingway tries to write a feminist story here, he really does, but he falls utterly short due to the restrictions he’s given himself. He’s made this (presumably) white, young upstart female American the protagonist, and given her husband a (presumable) injury. Hemingway, being stuck in the 20’s, would’ve thought that THAT was fantastic representation for women. Being the way he is, he can only write from one perspective narrative, and almost refuses to write out of the box. On top of this, the woman who has no name desires a lot of traditionally feminine things; To wear her hair long, new clothes, and the oddest signifier-to have a cat.
A cat symbolically is feminine, but in American culture it represents the subjected ‘sneaky’ side of females- The lies and secrets, gossip, sexuality, debonaire, all in the form of a four-legged animal. The fact that she wants a cat so bad-I counted she says cat like 13 times- hints at the fact that mabe she’s not entirely faithful to George, and will cheat on him with other men. Also George might be gay but it’s barely hinted at anyway I got nothin else.
