Ernest Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain,” uses subtle hints via imagery and character dialog to communicate his thoughts. It is therefore difficult to determine his motivation for writing the story. Many theories exist about what the kitten and maid are. The story is clearly about a unhappy, failing relationship. It is possible that Hemingway was trying to portray early 20th century relationships and women struggling for identity in society. I was able to see that Hemingway had much greater goals when he wrote this story. It seems that he was keen to address a social issue which was a passion of his since a young age. This is due to the rigidity of society’s gender roles. Hemingway was historical proof of his interest in gender roles by sharing Psychology of Sex (with his wife) and discussing “male and feminine roles.” I think Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain” is an example of the damaging effects of forced gender norms.
The story’s first interest is the wife, whose name is not revealed. The story reveals that she is unhappy in her marriage. She states, “I don’t understand why” Poor kitten. It’s not fun to be a poor cat out in the rain,” she says. She clearly feels she needs something and the kitten is relatable to her life (Hemingway 2). She continues on with more wishes, like “table”, silver,” “some new clothing,” and “to get her hair done” (2). These seemingly insignificant desires reveal much about the woman’s role in the story. The wife is looking for happiness, shelter and belongings that will allow her to escape her oppressive husband’s rule. The kitten is an emblem of a life that is feminine and delicate. The wife doesn’t realize that the kitten represents a society-created gender stereotype. It is filled with ignorance, frailty and infidelity. Hemingway illustrates this by using the wife as a metaphor. Hemingway demonstrates that living a life dictated by gender roles in society will not bring you happiness. The kitten is also in the rain. She notices that a man wearing rubber caps was walking through the square toward the cafe when she opens the door to the hotel. Although this traveler is a lonely man, he was not able to be overlooked. He’s out in the rain along with his wife, and their kitten, searching for happiness in a world that constantly tries to label him. He helps us understand that both gender roles have their limitations. This idea of universal pain is extended by George the husband and the padrone.
George is clearly a sexist and oppressive husband. He tells his wife that her hair should be kept “clipped like a boy” and will not listen to her if she tries to express her needs (2). His despotic and apathy are evident in his character. This contrasts with the padrone’s “dignity”, desire “to serve” his wife (1). The padrone’s dichotomous relationship with the husband only serves to intensify his wife’s sexual desires for the padrone. His “…very tight …” feeling within the wife is similar to sexual tension (2). His aloofness only makes the wife more distant. He has very little dialogue, despite his importance to the wife. She also says that her padrone made it feel “very small and yet at the sametime very important.” (2). This contradictory statement is not surprising. Despite being only a brief presence, the padrone remains omniscient throughout this story. His wife’s visceral energy helps to retain his image. He is always present, yet he is never seen. These are the details that I think Hemmingway used to illustrate masculine stereotypes. He is “tall” with “big hands” (2), which makes him physically virile. His demeanor and “dignity”, which are both noted traits, is also noted. The combination of his ghostly appearance and his demeanor creates an image that’s not real. He has all the qualities you can imagine. Although he does not contain all human emotions, he is limited to some masculine characteristics. The padrone seems to be a representation for masculine stereotypes. His positive attributes make him a man with high standards. His existence does not affect the physical. However, it can still make men feel bitter if they are not successful in society’s view of man.
Depending on how the story was read, the Cat in the Rain characters could represent many ideals. The reader is free to interpret this story however they wish. Many view Hemingway in this light as a feminist who stands up for women of early twentieth-century America, much like his American wife. Others think he’s chauvinist due to the inclusion of George, his oppressive husband, in the story. I’ve concluded from Hemingway’s interests as well as textual examples that Hemingway is neither feminist nor chauvinist. Hemingway, however, is a humanist. The characters can be interpreted as illustrating the negative effects of gender stereotypes. There are many supporting textual examples. Under the oppressive rule of her husband, the wife is a poor woman in the twenty-first century. She tries desperately to find a way to communicate with the kitten, but fails to understand the fragile, stereotypical gender of the kitten. It is being subject to the oppressive labels of society. The padrone’s ideals are what made George husband. George’s hatred of the padrone’s inhumanity is fuelled by their venomous love affair. This interpretation reveals that Hemingway was an humanist who demonstrated the harmful effects of society’s gender roles. ?