Cat in the Rain | Engelska uppgift

Introduktion
"Cat in the Rain" unfolds the tale of an American couple embarking on a romantic Italian holiday. From the confines of their hotel room, the American woman's gaze fixes on a lone cat, drenched by a relentless downpour outside.

Her heart brims with compassion, compelling her to venture out to shield the feline from the relentless raindrops.

However, her quest to rescue the cat takes an unexpected turn when she encounters the amiable hotelkeeper during her descent. An enchanting connection sparks between them, stirring emotions within her.

Undeterred by the cat's sudden disappearance upon her arrival outside, she retreats to the hotel room to share her desires and newfound feelings with her husband.

Regrettably, her husband's indifference and annoyance stand as a cold barrier to her emotional outpour. As the narrative reaches its conclusion, a knock on the door interrupts their strained exchange.

The maid, holding a cat tenderly in her hands, offers a glimmer of solace to the woman, completing the story's poignant journey.

Utdrag
Returning to the room, the husband remains unmoved, drawing yet another glaring contrast between George and the affable hotel owner.

The hotel owner unfailingly rises from his seat whenever he encounters his wife, a gesture of deference and courtesy, signified by "the padrone bowed from his desk" (p.2, ll.21-22).

In stark contrast, George's apparent indifference becomes apparent, prioritizing his own comfort over his wife's emotional needs.

The wife's fixation on the lost cat, now a symbol of her unfulfilled desires, becomes increasingly apparent. This longing extends beyond the feline itself, hinting at a deeper yearning.

She attempts to engage George in conversation about this yearning, but he casually retreats into the refuge of his book, underscoring his inattentiveness and continued neglect of her emotional needs.

Desperate for a sense of connection and fulfillment, she turns her gaze toward the mirror, embarking on a journey of self-examination. Her dissatisfaction with her short hair reveals a complex ambivalence—a reflection of her identity.

While her short haircut represents a liberated and unconventional feminine identity for the time, her yearning for long hair suggests a longing for a more traditional, perhaps more conventionally feminine self.