Hemingway used imagery throughout his short story “Cat in the Rain,” with each imagery having a distinct representation. Hemingway establishes the environment in which he introduces the couple and the atmosphere and guides the readers in the appropriate direction. Hemingway employed imagery in the “Cat in the Rain” when describing the Italian hotel, setting the mood for the short narrative. Only the hotel’s location in Italy is revealed to readers, meaning they are Americans and, therefore, must acquire accommodation elsewhere. That is why they are referred to as “Americans,” which would be absurd if they were visiting their own country, America. In Hemingway (n.d.), they are described as the sole visitors from America and do not know any other person in the hotel. Additionally, the couple is isolated from the rest of the hotel. They are cut off from the chamber beyond their window, where an empty square can be seen due to the rain (Hemingway, n.d.). The essay shows an instance of how Hemingway used imagery in the short story, giving a vivid impression that the couple is not happy.
From the imagery regarding the couple’s environment, it is prudent to conclude that they are unhappy about their trip to Italy. They do not appear to get along well. When reading the short story, the woman keeps nagging the husband about getting the cat from the rain and about her hair being unattractive while the husband is in bed, engrossed in reading a book (Donaldson, 2021). One might anticipate that when a young married American couple traveled abroad for work or pleasure, their displays of affection would be more obvious, maybe even more so on a rainy day. According to Hemingway (n.d.), the woman demands to get the cat shielding from the rain under the table due to the rain. The husband gets a cold shoulder from her even though he offers to help her, given the circumstances.
In conclusion, Hemingway’s use of imagery dramatically adds to the depth of his characters. The reader makes the protagonists’ psychological experiences and companions more evident. The short story would lose much of its color and clarity without the imagery in the reader’s mind. The hotel setting has made it possible for readers to comprehend the area’s atmosphere.
Reference
Hemingway, E. (n.d.). Cat in the Rain [PDF].