Pearson ALC English 12 Students: "Cat in the Rain" Blogging Journal

Friday, February 8, 2008

"Cat in the Rain" Blogging Journal

Please put your writing on one of the 15 topics from your Blogging Journal sheet. Remember that, once you use a topic, you may not write on it again! Homework is due by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 12.

14 comments:

kamila said...: Q.3 Does this work confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.

I have always believed that the most essential skill that helps couples to stand the test of time, except of love, is a good ability to communicate. Lack of understanding creates difficulties in every relationship. My beliefs found a very good confirmation in the story “Cat in the rain” by E.Hemingway. The couple of Americans is an example showing how hard it can be when we are unable to talk openly with our partner. It is easy to sense from the story that the American woman is not satisfied with her life and wants some changes. She tries to let her husband know what is bothering her, but apparently does not know how to do it. She seems lost, but instead of getting her husband’s attention she makes him frustrated and finally is ordered to “shut up”. The story ends, but things are left as they were – the man is still reading and the woman is still unhappy. No problems were solved, no resolution reached. This piece of work by E.Hemingway is extremely good evidence confirming my opinion that if people can not talk openly with each other it will be difficult for them to enjoy the life they share.

(200 words); February 10, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Lola said...: Q10: Between the Sexes
Ernest Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain” vividly shows the different between two genders. A wife who is a free-spirit and a practical, down to earth husband, as an American couple, their marriage contains some frictions. Most women really care about the little things in life. Something tiny can usually change their emotions quickly. They see life as the many small things. In the story, the wife likes to pay attention to a cat which hasn’t any relevant with her or the attitude of a strange padrone. She expresses her frustrated feeling with something completely different. Men choose another ways to face daily life just like George. He realistically accepts a bad rainy day in the journey and stays inside to read a book numbly. He probably doesn’t understand why his wife has so many unusual actions and demands instead of just calming down and enjoy a book. On the other hand, women always hope to get endless love and attention from the opposite sex with romantically, but men are used to enjoy the achievement and comfort of their life. The different between women and men is the main reason of the unhappiness in this marriage.（198 words）; February 10, 2008 at 7:49 PM
andrew said...: Q5: Describe your feelings as you read the writing and what sort of experience you had.

E. Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain” gives me an idea of how hard a relationship could be. Probably an age difference between the vacationing couple exists and I think the wife is at least ten years younger than her hubby, George, which implied by her immature speeches and activities. The wife desires to save a “kitty” from the raindrops. A grown-up knows the rain does no harm to the animals living on the streets. Also she feels flattered by the way the padrone treats her and is easily attracted by “his big hands”. After going back without finding the cat, she turns unreasonable by saying “I want this”, “I want that”, which seems a kid saying “I want candy”, “I want toy”, and is ended by George’s “shut up”, a typical adult response. Sadly I can’t see any mutual understanding or trying to be understandable from both side of the couple. Sometimes relationships are just out of control and hurt. Maybe the annoying rain would stop, but I could imagine the coming of the winter of their love, not another spring. (198 words); February 11, 2008 at 2:31 AM
Margaret said...: Topic #7
Write about the most effective things you notice in the writing.

The most effective thing, I found while reading Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain,” is the dialogue. Personally, I prefer to read a story where there’s some form of communication between the main characters. Every character reveals different emotion, attitude, has specific behaviour, and opposite point of view that keeps the story alive. Reading the dialogue allows me to picture each character in my mind. Every word, the author put into the mouth of the characters, contributes to the main focus of the story. It keeps the story moving. During the reading “Cat in the Rain,” sometimes I had a feeling that Hemingway divided himself between two people: “I want . . . “- American wife” and “I like it the way it is“- husband. The conversation exposes some unresolved problems, that sometimes during the marriage, many couples face in. It’s all about the relationship. There’s always some underlying message or statement between the spoken words. Who is right and who is wrong, the answer author leaves to the readers. Dialogue allows the readers to see the life from different perspective, that’s why; in my opinion, it makes the story more valuable.(191 words); February 11, 2008 at 8:08 PM
Shawn said...: Topic # 1
Tell about how you feel towards this writing or it's author and why.

In my opinion, Ernest Hemingway intended to hint that the couple’s relationship was not doing well. George showed lack of interest in his wife while the woman craves attention from someone such as the Kitty, hotelkeeper, her husband or probably anyone. The American wife seemed to be in the same predicament as the cat. Perhaps that is why she wanted to rescue the Feline; she wanted to be rescued from the repression of her husband.
In the story she says “Oh I wanted it so much. I wanted a kitty”. It shows that she just wanted something not necessarily looking for a specific cat but maybe she wanted to create the attention (like a child would) by going down to get the kitty herself or perhaps she wants a child? Also the story didn’t end by saying she was happy that the maid brought the kitty back. Because of the way the story ended, you or I will have to come up with an alternative ending ourselves.
In conclusion, it’s obvious she wanted some sort of change in her life. Sadly, George thinks reading is the answer to the problems they both have.

(193 words); February 12, 2008 at 1:08 AM
vic''ky said...: Q9, what does the work mean and why do you think that? explain the writing's overall significance or message to its readers.

In the work “Cat in the rain”, the author describes males as the rain and the American wife as the cat. The American wife wants some material staff. Also, she wants to change herself from her hair style. However, her husband cannot satisfy her materially. Mentally, she gets “shut up” from her husband as reply. There is a metaphor. She is like the cat which is crouched under one of the dripping green table suffers pains from her husband. She knows the fact that she cannot change anything included herself, so she is long to get the cat. At the end of the story, she gets the cat. It is sarcastic because the cat which she really wants to get is not from herself. It is from the male padrone. The author is trying to tell the readers that in this age, in this society, sexism is truly existent and it is as hard as the rain. Females are inferior to males.

162 words; February 12, 2008 at 1:30 AM
Cherry Pie said...: Q.5 Describe your feelings as you read the writing and what sort of experience you had.

I sympathize with the American wife when she does not get what she wants. I know the feeling of wanting something but you can't have it. But I'm glad because in the end of the story she gets the kitty. I believe that if something is really meant for you no matter what happens it will be yours.
I remember my childhood days when I want a tamagochi so badly because most of my classmates had it. But when I requested it to my parents they did not want to buy me one. My father told me that it was not important for my studies so there was no chance they will give me a tamagochi. I got so mad with my father but still I can't do anything but to accept their decision.
I woke up one morning with a small gift on my bedside table. It was a birthday gift from my mom and dad. I opened the gift reluctantly; I have an idea that it was an alarm clock. But when I saw what was inside I jumped out of bed and ran to my parent's room. Yes, it was a tamagochi!

(195 words); February 12, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Sunny said...: Q.9 What does the work mean and why do you think that? Explain the writing's overall significance or message to its readers.
"Cat in the Rain" by Ernest Hemingway gives me some messages about relationship. Because of gender,age,life background,and many other things, people even the couple has difficulties to live together. In the story, the American couple had the different behavior in a rainy day. The wife seemed much younger than her husband. The husband enjoyed staying in the room and reading the book. Otherwise, the wife payed attention to the things outside. She went out and wanted to get the cat crouched under a table. But she didn't get it, she was upsetting. When she returned to the room, she talked on and on. Her husband said impatiently, "Shut up and get something to read." I think that the wife might not want everything, and she only wanted her husband to notice her. It's a big promblem when people live together, but they can't communicate smoothly. At the end of the story, the woman got a cat. The author hinted that there might have a new method to solve the difficulties between them. If people want to get good relationship, they should find the way to make a change. (191 words); February 12, 2008 at 1:05 PM
zara said...: Tell about how you feel towards this writing or its author and why.
The story of "Cat in the Rain" by E. Hemingway is focused around the intricacies of a relationship between an American couple which spend their holidays in an Italian hotel. Before we can analyze the story we must to begin by looking at the man and the time period during which this story was written. In my opinion, Mr. Hemingway was a true 19 century man and during this period of time men’s opinion towards women was that they were unequal to men and they did not the same rights as men. Thus, he portrays the female character as weak, insecure, and vulnerable female while he portrays the male character as secure and self-confidence. Also by finishing his story by George not showing any pity or attention towards his wife after all complain and nagging, Hemingway vividly shows his bias towards men and his belief of man’s superiority in a relationship. I am of course, very disappointed in Mr. Hemingway’s point of view and I think he is wrong to give all the power to the man. On the other hand, by writing these kinds of stories he maybe trying to inform women that they have the right and make decision to change their situation in an era which men had all the power.(217 words); February 12, 2008 at 4:18 PM
selina li said...: Topic 4.

The short story "Cat in the Rain" by Ernest Hemingway, in which the author introduces an America couple on their trip in Italy. On one raining day in their hotel room, the wife is bored by her idea of having changes in her life---even she could own a cat, but the husband is just stick on his reading and not interest in what the wife is saying. The situation of this couple remainds me of Jane, my co-worker in my hometown, and her tragic marriage. Jane and her husband were such a happy, love couple in the beginning of their story. However, as time goes, samilar situation to the America couple occured between Jane and her husband. Whenever Jane wanted a little change or asked her husband for comments on her appearance or ideas, her husband always said "Doesn't matter" or "Up to you". Jane stated to doubt her hasband's roylty and faith, and then they fought till they got divoced. This allows me to predict the fortune of the American couple is unfortunate. It aslo warns us that the evolve relationship between the couple needs every one to contribute and care about.

(192 words); February 12, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Gwyneth said...: Q{9}

After reading “Cat in the Rain” I found myself taken back by another untold story. The story is based on symbolism. The primary symbol was the cat which I felt was the female characters representation of her “dreams”. In the beginning it seems as though these “dreams” are out of reach. They are hidden by life’s circumstances or in this case the rain. When enough courage is built up the woman decides to go in search of them. When she doesn’t find them she becomes greatly disappointed and a breakthrough occurs when she voices these wants and needs to her husband. As if by validation and confirmation of these emotions and feelings the cat is found and brought to the woman. In conclusion it is as if the cat is a lurking symbol of opportunities passed by. In the end of the story we see the woman finally take hold of an opportunity and assumingly find comfort in it. I do not know if the author intended to have this hidden meaning but I do know that this symbolism represented for me a new way of evaluating one’s actions.

189 words; February 12, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Victoria said...: Q3 Does this work confront or confirm your personal believes?

In the conflict like the one described in the story “Cat in the Rain” by E. Hemingway, I usually take woman’s side for being a woman myself and understanding woman’s nature better. However, this particular story changed my perception to the opposite. I start having sympathy for her husband. It is raining all day and there is no his fault for that happening. He is all-sufficient man; he can entertain himself if it’s needed, unlike her. He is willing to spend time with her saving the kitty from the cold weather. She denies his help and goes by herself. They could’ve had fun seeking for the cat, but instead she comes back alone, empty handed, and disappointed. She is being capricious. As a result he rudely asks her to “shut up”. It is not the best way of communication between two (supposed to be in love) people, but sometimes when someone having a “temper tantrums” it is best to use “tough love” method. The story confronts my usual point of view, and better yet makes me change my way of seeing the situation. I am glad to see the opposite side of the “medal”. (194); February 12, 2008 at 7:15 PM
CATALINA19 said...: Tell about how you feel toward the writing or its author and why.

Both in The rain

This American woman was a cat in the rain. Through the story I could feel her solitude and miserable life. She was not more than an abandoned wife without any hope. There is when she sees this little kitty that reflects her situation of helplessness. She is eager to save him; she is eager to save herself. Then she goes out, and she is treated with respect and devotion. In her life, she hadn’t been given so much importance. There is when she suddenly gets an umbrella right over her head. The umbrella she was waiting for so long ago since her life was all rain. She goes out looking for the kitty, but the kitty was gone. Now she is disappointed and ruined because the only chance to minimize the rain in her life has been lost. She comes back to her room and talking to her husband; she explains the reason of saving the unlucky cat under the rain. “I want to pull my hair back tight and smooth and make a big knot at the back that I can feel,” she said. “I want to have a kitty to sit on my lap and purr when I stroke her”. There she was, a little girl asking for love. The love she was pretending to give to a kitty just as miserable as her, but the American man shut her up. This story makes me feel really sorry, because not even by using rhetoric she gets to communicate with her husband. He never understood she was the cat in the rain waiting for a safe and warm shelter.; February 12, 2008 at 7:19 PM
Claudia said...: Topic # 13
In what ways does the writing reflect the time it was written or the personality of the author?

Unrevealing Personality
In the story “Cat in the Rain” Ernest Hemingway tries to reveal himself when he portraits the “two Americans”, it could be a representation about his relationship with his wife. Perhaps an unforgettable experience in his past. For instance, when Hemingway describes “George”, an inactive man who loves to read as he lies on the bed. It is a clear comparison with himself who is a writer, who probably tend to do the same. Or, when the “American wife” starts shouting about her demands most likely Hemingway will react in the same manner as in “Cat in the Rain” stating “Oh, shut up and get something to read,” with this action it truly represents his macho personality. Another example, George never listens to anything his wife said, yet it is another way to describe Hemingway as a journalist who would love to concentrate on his writing, instead of listening why his wife is not satisfied with her hair. I highly believe this is a true real personality of Hemingway.
(171 words); February 13, 2008 at 12:47 AM

Pearson ALC English 12 Students

Friday, February 8, 2008

"Cat in the Rain" Blogging Journal

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