Hemingway Stories
"A Cat in the Rain"
Read both stories--twice if necessary. Comment on both stories. What mood is created? What do you notice of Ernest Hemingway's style? What do you like about them? Write something insightful and edit carefully.
Make certain that your original ideas and your response to another student are posted before 7 am Friday the 18th.
Read both stories--twice if necessary. Comment on both stories. What mood is created? What do you notice of Ernest Hemingway's style? What do you like about them? Write something insightful and edit carefully.
Make certain that your original ideas and your response to another student are posted before 7 am Friday the 18th.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete“A Day’s Wait”
ReplyDeleteA patient mood lingered throughout the entire story. “Patient” because no one acted rashly, interrupted anyone else, or brushed off any questions or comments. Additionally, I think that because the father and boy responded to each question they asked each other and never showed signs of being angry in their responses. I liked the relationship between the boy and the father because I’m pretty sure a similar situation happened to me. The words he chose in that descriptive paragraph near the end are interesting. His writing came off as if he was there and described what everything was like rather than coming off as if he imagined the scenario and filled in the details from his imagination.
“Cat in the Rain”
An excited mood mainly existed throughout the story. I thought this was the case because the girl felt excited to have a chance to get a cat, even though she missed her chance by taking too long to reach the cat. From there, she felt sadder and listed a bunch of changes she wanted to happen; however, she lingered on the thought of “want[ing] a cat.” Additionally, as I speculate, when the maid brings a cat, her excitement probably returns or surpasses where it was earlier in the story. I liked the description of the area around the hotel. There were just enough words that my mind was left able to fill in the blanks while still being guided by the story. It was not overwhelming to read and imagine the setting. I also liked it because it reminded me of vacation.
I guess Ernest Hemingway’s writing style is making something realistic, believable, and immersive. Maybe his style is also based around the fact that he includes large chunks of imagery descriptions in his stories. I think it is because the stories are realistic and believable, and because he includes a ton of imagery, that the stories are immersive.
Interesting insight in regards to the text. I do agree with you with how their relationship in "A Day's Wait" seemed very positive. They seemed to get along well. I believe a situation like that occured to me as well except I was actually going to die. With "Cat in the Rain," I liked your comments with how she wanted the cat so bad. Perhaps with her waiting too long to get it, that could be tied to her wasting too many opportunities in the past and having regret as well. Also, good point with how the stories are believable. I agree, there was nothing too absurd about them that couldn't happen in real life.
Delete"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteThe mood in this story is definitely a sort of slow paced solemness. While no one has died, the son's apparent sadness at his impending "death" dominates most of the story. Additionally, the hunting scene takes some of this negative energy and creates the father's failure to be super accurate. Hemingway's style in this story is very detail oriented and definitely does not add much in terms of guesswork. The story is what it is, take it or leave it. However, the point of the plot becomes very clear in the last two sentences, especially with the crying that the child has the next day.
"Cat in the Rain"
This story creates a mood of disappointment (but not entirely). The cat being "lost" is definitely the disappointment, but there may also be a theme of wishing for a better future/American dream. This particularly comes from the wife's daydream of the "perfect" life. However maybe it is also about not hurting yourself with those dreams. I am personally unsure. The style in this story is definitely still detail oriented, but ultimately more procedural. One detail feeds into the next which brings forth the next point. Then the entire train is quashed (which is somewhat humorous).
What I liked about both stories:
I really loved how simple they both were. You can put yourself there and say "yeah this might happen to me sometime". Additionally, I feel like we as a people put so much value on literally everything. These may have some meanings outside of what is immediately presented, but ultimately, they are just stories. Not every occurrence of everything has earth-shattering meaning that will literally flip your thought paradigm. In short, these are just really nice to read.
I agree with your mood thoughts for "A Day's Wait." That's practically what I was thinking in my own response. Looks like we both came to the same conclusion about his style, too; however, I got that feeling of not having to guess with the second story more than the first.
DeleteYeah, I guess you could say "Cat in the Rain" had a slight mood of disappointment. You might be right: this might be an American Dream-pushing story. I don't understand what you mean by "maybe it is also about not hurting yourself with those dreams." "Hurt" as in because the girl almost did not get a cat? You're also right about the story seeming to just flow in a predictable way without twists or anything.
"Simple," that's what I was thinking before I reworded what I was thinking into "realistic, believable, and immersive." I agree again, these stories probably do have some special hidden meaning; however, these feel better as just simple stories.
In both of Hemingway's stories, a darker mood is created. This comes across in "A Day's Wait" as the boy constantly zones out and repeatedly mentions he thinks he will die. In "A Cat in the Rain", on the other hand, Hemingway utilizes descriptions of weather, specifically rain, to reflect the main character's gloomy attitude. I noticed that in both stories, Hemingway assigns his main characters an inner conflict that they unspokenly battle through the course of the story until they finally reveal what has caused their unhappiness. As a reader, I enjoyed this element of Hemingway's writing style because it is written in a way so that the reader understands the conflict but other minor characters do not. Specifically in "A Day's Wait" I thought it was interesting how quickly the boy's attitude changed once he realized he would not die. He was tense and distracted for the majority, but felt an obvious sense of relief as he realized the mistake he had made. This same story element is present in "A Cat in the Rain" as the woman is clearly unhappy and unsatisfied in her marriage, and though the story cuts off just as she receives the cat, it is easy to imagine the joy that she felt in that moment. Disregarding the truth behind her admissions, her husband does not realize that another man is responsible for his wife's happiness.
ReplyDeleteI too focused on the darker moods that Hemingway creates in both stories. I also agree that the main characters struggle with a problem for almost the entirety of the novel until the end when it suddenly is resolved. I found your analysis of the boy’s attitude in “A Day’s Wait” and the Woman’s in “Cat in the Rain” interesting. I had looked more at the emotions the readers would feel rather than the emotions of the characters. I also never took into consideration how another man is responsible for the wife's happiness; I thought that was insightful.
Delete
ReplyDelete“Cat in the Rain”
I enjoyed this story because even though the mood is for the most part depressing, there's a glimmer of excitement when the lady goes to find the cat. The readers feel a sense of hope, only to have it taken away when the cat is gone, then returned when the cat returns. I thought it seemed as if Hemingway wanted to play with the emotions of the readers and represent the ups and downs of life through their emotions; however, he made sure to end on a positive note. The woman also has a sort of empowering moment when she decides what she wants her life to be like, instead of living for someone else.
“A Day’s Wait”
I thought that this story was darker than “Cat in the Rain,” not so much because of what happened in the story, but because of what didn’t happen. I thought the story was well written, but there wasn’t a lot of action. For almost the entire story, the little boy is sick and thinking he is going to die. Attempts are made to cheer him up, but he is still miserable until the very end when he is told he will not die. I did think that this story had a lot of imagery, especially when the father goes out for a walk.
With both of Hemingway’s stories, I could paint a picture of the characters and scenario in my head after only reading the first couple sentences. Although I liked Hemingway’s major use of description and imagery, I found the mood of both stories the most interesting. They both kind of follow the same path in which the main character feels distressed about something for almost the entirety of the story, but then has everything work out for them in the ending paragraphs. I think that Hemingway wrote his stories in this distinctive manner because he wanted readers to end his stories with the positive feeling that problems have a way of working themselves out, they are not always what they seem, and that it is not necessary to get stressed out every time.
I find the hopeful analysis for "Cat in the Rain" interesting as well as your assertion that it ends on a positive note. I did not really pick up on hope in that story at all, even with the color green present. Mostly during the story I focused on the couple's clear dissatisfaction with their relationship. The wife's inability to live for herself instead of her husband irked me. As did her husband's indifference towards his wife's happiness. I did not see her getting the cat at the end as her finally taking steps to get what she wants. It was just the act of someone who actually cares enough to support what she wants. I believe that she will still suffer in her relationship and not follow her desires. She talks about what she wants, but it is just talk. The one person she wants to listen refuses; therefore she will give up on it. That's how I read it. But the positive outlook is interesting.
Delete"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteA rather worried mood is created. Hemmingway's method of describing the appearance of the boy is done through color diction. Pointing out that "his face was white" made me think of death or eventual death. I enjoyed reading about the description of the icy setting, as it added to the grim tone of the story (cold --> dead body). Perhaps the added information in regards to the bird hunting trip was to put emphasis on the "hit or miss" aspect of illnesses like the flu (dying or not dying). Overall, I felt rather on edge during the entirety of the story until the last portion due to the problem's resolution.
"Cat in the Rain"
A mood of longing is created. The lady, wanting the cat in the rain, spent a lot of the story longing for her desires. At the beginning of the story, with the "green benches in the public garden," my mind immediately went to color symbolism. Found in the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the color green is often a symbol of hope. This same hope and longing is found in this short story with the wife. She longs for the cat, the hair she wants, a fancy table, and a respectable husband. With how kindly she treated the man at the front desk compared to her husband, I can assume she is not happy with him.
Ernest Hemingway writes with an often mysterious writing style. He hides the true story of characters behind their slight actions and communication with other characters. There are a lot of miniscule details that point to facts that would help develop your understanding of the story. I enjoy the mystery and symbolic messages behind his writing. It is also pretty easy to read and not as complex as compared to Moby Dick.
As always, you bring a unique perspective to the table. While I agree with you on certain points (mostly your style and pointing out of color), I disagree with your mood for "A Day's Wait". There is some worry, but it does not dominate the entirety of the story (see my post of solemness). Although, you have seemed to pull more meaning out of it then I myself did, so who am I to judge. Now for "Cat in the Rain", I see your point. There definitely is american dream-esque longing here and I myself picked up on that as well. I think there is more of a DOASM type of "american dream killing machine", as the wife begins to hope to an excessive and damaging point. The mystery you talk of was something that I failed to pick up on, but now I understand where you (and Mrs. Leugers) are coming from. Personally, I like to look at them as small and simple stories, but I see meaning as well.
DeleteI completely agree with your mood when it comes to "A Day's Wait" as well as your thoughts on the color diction! My ideas were very similar when it comes to this passage. In "Cat in the Rain," I doubt I would have caught the Great Gatsby similarities on my own. I agree that it has a similar look to Daisy's relationship with Tom even down to her heart wondering for real love. To add onto what you said about her desires, I think it just comes down to her wanting to have power in her own life and not to be control by her husband to the point where she cannot even get a hair style that she wants.
DeleteFurthermore, I also agree with your thoughts on Hemingway's style as long as the iceberg idea is added in as you already know. Also what is really as complex as Moby (lol)? Hopefully nothing!
"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteA brooding mood is illustrated in this passage. Until the end, there was a lot of pessimism presented by the ill child who thought he was waiting on his death. When describing the outdoors, the narrator mentions the bare trees and the dangerous environment further establishing the tone. Even since the doctor mentioned that if his temperature rose 2 more degrees he would be at risk, I was on edge. Additionally, I felt like the story was jumping around quite a bit and it increased the uncertainty.
"Cat in the Rain"
In the second story, the mood was significantly more uplifting and somewhat impassioned. The positive color diction and imagery created by "the bright colors of the hotels facing the gardens and the sea" added more hope and beauty (Hemingway). When the wife saw the cat, all she wanted was to get it similarly to her mindset on the hotel guy. As shown later in the passage, her husband is very controlling and does not let her do anything so she does not want to be with him. The cat itself is a symbol of something she wants but cannot have if she stays with her husband while the other guy is willing to get soaked just for her.
Okay so we already talked about Hemingway's style in class so I am going to address what Mrs. Leugers said. His writing is believed to follow the iceberg theory meaning, there is always more than what meets the eye. In most aspects of life, there is always a situation that is out of context where we are not sure what's going on; furthermore, in Hemingway's writing, he adds onto this and makes us realized that sometimes, there are areas of ideas that we don't know. Additionally, he uses his characters as a pathway to him and his struggles after returning from war.
You made some really great points on both of the Hemingway passages. Specifically, your analysis of "Cat in the Rain" as well as the iceberg theory Mrs. Leugers mentioned stood out to me. The idea that the cat is a symbol of the padrone never crossed my mind; however, I now understand it and agree with it. They are similar to each other in the sense that the woman's husband stands between her freedom to obtain these objects. I now believe the woman's tantrum about wanting the cat is her indirectly telling her husband that she wants another man. This directly relates to Hemingway's use of the iceberg theory because, on the surface, it may seem that the woman just wants a pet. As you further analyze, it becomes clear that a darker issue stands behind her words: she belongs to a miserable marriage, and the man she truly has feelings for is just out of reach.
Delete"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteThe imagery and color diction of the story created an air of death, reflecting the boy's inner monologue. Despite his father's attempt to protect him from any sort of bad news by speaking with the doctor privately, he only created a misunderstanding that increased Schatz' anxieties. Though, I thought it was interesting that Schatz just accepted that he was going to die, opting to sit in silence instead of seeking solace. Perhaps his mentality could be seen in the book his father read to him, Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates (which was named twice, so it HAS to be important). Typically, pirates are characterized as the epitome of masculinity — strong and fearless, capable of surviving just about anything. As a young boy with an impressionable mind, it is definitely possible that he internalized this message, deciding that he should bear the weight of his impending death alone, like a man would (or pirates — they would never fear death, nor would they admit it even if they did).
"A Cat in the Rain"
Pairing the beginning isolation of the characters with the use of rain imagery, a desolate feeling is created. There is a solemn loneliness and detachment wafting through every sentence, separating the wife in particular from her surroundings. Because of this, she is especially inclined to empathize with the cat — alone and vulnerable to the rain. On her way out to get said cat, the narrator continuously repeats that she likes the hotel manager, a description that lasted a lot longer than the one for her husband, hinting at a divide between the two. This is also enhanced by their later conversation, where the wife goes on a short rant about all of the things she wants and how she “can’t have...any fun.” Dissatisfied with herself and her life, it seems as though she was expecting something from the cat — maybe for it to awaken something within herself, or perhaps, to simply have a companion that will respond to her with more enthusiasm. When the maid brings a cat to the wife, it feels a bit like a let-down reading it. We don’t get to see the wife’s reaction, nor do we get to know if it is even the same cat; it just feels incomplete. However, it makes sense to end it this way considering that the text surrounds the wife and her view on life.
Both
I liked the depth and the immersion; it’s really easy to put yourself in the place of the characters, especially with the writing style, and it feels like there is always something deeper. As said in class, he writes like an iceberg — we see a little bit of the top poking out of the water, but it is so much larger beneath the surface. Externally, there are just simple interactions between characters, but when you start looking, you realize that those simple interactions define the characters as people and provide insight to their inner selves.
I thuroughly enjoyed reading your summary and thoughts about the two short stories. In peticular, I was glad you talked about the way Shaltz layed in silence in "A Day's Wait". I also found this strange but did not make the connection to the book which could be influencing this hyper-masculine behavior. As for your analysis of "Cat in the Rain," I enjoyed the way you talked about the distance between the woman and her husband as well as the anticlimactic ending when she is given the cat she has yearned for thoughtout the entire story. Even though it had an overall light mood compared to "A Day's Wait," it absolutely felt more strained. Finally, I completely agree with your commenting about the depth of Hemingway's writing (obviously). Both stories seem like they could be something light and quick like a slightly commical story you could share with your friends while eating dinner. However, they both contain a deeper and more troubling underbelly when closely analized.
Delete"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteReading the first page of the short story, an innocnet and neutral mood is created. The events are rather normal, the son is ill, yet there does not seem to be anything concerning about it; just a simple flu. However, as more time passes the mood begins to shift to something slightly more mysterious and foreboding. This mood is incorperated through the boy tell his father he does not have to stay with him if "it is going to bother [him]." This seems to be a bit suspicious and causes the mood to continue to darken until it morphs into a light and comical mood when the boy reveals he was waiting for death due to a humorous missunderstanding. However, there is still a lingering sadness when one realizes this boy spent his entire day, alone, and waiting for his life to end.
"Cat in the Rain"
In this short stroy, the overall mood is one of gloom and tranquility. However, when the woman sees the cat and relaizing she may have the chance to keep it, she is thrown into a mood of exhilaration. She floats down to the lobby and out the door; yet when she realizes the absence of the cat, her mood begins a steady decay until the end of the story. She is at first dissapointed and then nearly angry as she complains about all the things she wished she had. Before the story concludes, as shes making demands of new clothes, and longer hair to her husband, the maid comes to deliver the cat. I enjoy the author's portrayal of the flux in emothion felt by the woman.
Ernest Heminway's writing seems to play heavily on human emotions and their nature. "A Day's Wait" has a heavier mood than "Cat in the Rain;" however, they both acheive something similar. Both stroies highlight on the fluxuation of mood and emotion. In "A Day's Wait" the boy is terrified by his inevitable death only to discover he is not dying in any way; this gives his mood and boost as he now appreciates things so much more. "Cat in the Rain" is similar, but with a few more changes in emotion. The woman starts in a dreary mood, but this is changed when she sees the cat. When she discovers the cat is gone, she then sad and a little frustrated; and although the reader does not see her reaction to the delivery of the cat, they can infer she is again over joyed by this developement.
I agree with your commentary on the first short story. I felt it was sad and also somewhat humorous in an ironic way. Though in the second short story I feel I sympathized more with the woman than you may have. When you say she "complains about all the things she wishes she had" It comes off as you disliking her discontent with losing track of the kitty. I felt bad for her because her husband was clearly neglectful of her. I especially liked your commentary on how his writing plays heavily on human emotion and human nature. I did not think about it in that way.
Delete"Cat in the Rain"
ReplyDeleteThis story has a wistful, apathetic mood. Hemingway establishes a clear yet serene conflict through indifference and description of minor characters. The wife's unhappiness is not only evident through her interactions with her husband but through the way she describes other characters and the way they make her feel. The minor characters "made her feel very small and at the same time really important." They made her feel safe and valued. That is why she uses the word "liked" seven times while describing the hotel keeper. They give her what her husband does not. That is why she reflects on her desires, searching for gratification from her husband to no avail. His apathy makes the ending significant because it emphasizes that a stranger is more in tune to his wife's feelings than he is.
"A Day's Wait"
This story presented a more solemn mood. The father's concern for his son was relieving after facing frustration from the husband's indifference in the previous story. They have a strong relationship. I see existential undertones in the child's behavior. His acceptance of his death, which thankfully did not come, reflects the indifference of the world. Clearly he understood in some way that the world would go on without him. I will refrain from discussing color diction since it has already been brought up.
What I Liked:
I am not really a fan of short stories, and I hate things that leave room for question and wonder. However, the exchanges between characters are quite relatable. I found myself thinking of conversations I have had with my friends as I read. Also cats are pretty cool. That's all I got.
I like how you went into depth on the minor characters in "Cat in the Rain." Going into depth on her unhappiness with her husband and her affection for the other characters was really interesting. For "A Day's Wait," I thought it was interesting how you explored the sons maturity and acceptance of death. Because of his acceptance, that gave the story a solemn mood which wouldn't be the case if the son was afraid.
DeleteI found myself nodding along with your all of your ideas relating to both texts. The unhappiness of the wife shone through like a light throughout "Cat In the Rain," so when she is brought the cat, she feels a sense of love (but not love, I cant figure out the right word) and belonging that she is not receiving from her husband. Also, I agree on your rather controversial stance that cats are pretty great.
Delete"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteThe story mostly has a morose feeling to it. Although the father is completely fine, not expecting any worry over his child, the son brings a sadness to the story. His actions make the reader feel as if the son knows something the father doesn't. Moreover, it appears as if the child is accepting death which gives the reader an unsettling feeling about it. We eventually learn, however, that the son misunderstood the differences between Celsius and Fahrenheit. That quickly changed the mood to a more lighthearted and humorous mood. Rereading the story after knowing the end changes the mood too. The son acting mature and accepting death is quite funny knowing that he is completely wrong about the situation.
"Cat in the Rain"
This story could have a completely different mood if not for one element, that element being the rain. The rain almost starts a butterfly effect for the story. Without the rain, the lady would not have gone to get the cat; which in turn would lead to her not talking to the owner in the lobby and so on. Moreover, the author makes it obvious about the lady's unhappiness. Her attempt to retrieve the cat seems to show an attempt to be wanted. Near the end of the story, the lady lists off all of the stuff she wishes for; and her husband appears to be uninterested. His lack of interest also explains her affection to the hotel owner who at the end of the story sends her the cat.
Ernest Hemingway, from what I understand, has a pretty unique style. Both of the stories are everyday scenarios. A sick child, due to a misunderstanding, believes he will die; and a lady, feeling unwanted, goes to retrieve a cat in an effort to feel needed. Hemingway is able to manipulate the mood of the story to how he wants to tell it. He is able to give a feeling of melancholy in stories that normally would not feel that way.
Looking back on "A day's Wait," I agree that the son's mistake can be seen as humorous. Once you read the story again knowing the son's though process throughout the conversations and events, it sheds light on why there was a consistent sadness throughout the work.
DeleteFurthermore, the wife in a "Cat in the Rain" does seem to have a wishful attitude. I can see how the treatment she receives from her husband can result in her wishing for so many other things, some of which may or may not improve her situation.
Hemingway's writing style provides a sense of emotions that would not exactly be expected under the circumstances.
I agree with your assessment of "A Day's Wait," it was such a small mistake to make that lead to the boy having such a morbid idea of what was to happen to him. Little misunderstandings like that can have a huge impact on the plot of a story or in daily life. For "Cat in the Rain," I thought your analysis of the rain was interesting, I didn't even think to look at the rain as an element on its own.
Delete"A Day's Wait"
ReplyDeleteUpon reading the passage, the dejected atmosphere surrounding the characters became quickly apparent. a despondent tone is quickly created as Hemingway uses vivid language to describe what is occurring. Due to the emotions that were conveyed throughout the passage, it was no surprise when the boy presented the fact that he had no hope for his future. it was both sad and somewhat concerning that the boy seemed to accept the notion that he would die so easily, especially if one considers he chose to be completely alone in what he believed to be his remaining time on earth.
"Cat in the Rain"
While this short story also conveys a despondent atmosphere, it definitely is not in the same sense as "A Day's Wait." It is hard not to sympathize with the wife, as it becomes she feels alone and somewhat neglected in the world. She shows a desperate need for connection which is unsurprising as her husband seemingly lacks any true concern for her. While the boy in "A Day's Wait" seems quick to accept defeat, the wife in this story seems to truly want to cling onto something or someone so she can be released from her current circumstances.
I enjoyed both short stories. I feel that Hemingway takes an interesting approach when diving into the emotional thought processes of his characters. his approach with telling information throughout the stories can easily lead to readers questioning what the true reasons or outcomes will be.
“A Day’s Wait”
ReplyDeleteThroughout the piece, there is a solemn mood, a false calm conveyed. One notices the boy acting strange at first examination, but it isn’t until the end that the reason is revealed. The story as a whole is very bittersweet, ultimately having a good ending although the boy struggled in silence for an entire day. Thinking he was going to die, he attempted to make it easy on his father, offering to be alone even in what he thought were his last moments. It must have been terrifying trying to conceptualize death as such a young child. He didn’t want to rest in fear that he wouldn’t wake up. He locked himself in his room so his father wouldn’t die with him. After finding out he wasn’t on his deathbed, obviously he relaxed. It was good to know that the next day he let loose, and got to behave like a child again.
“Cat in the Rain”
The mood of this text is almost depressing, making it clear that the woman is going through something, but nothing seems to be going right for her. Communicating with her husband, saving the cat, and feeling content with herself in general. The cat that the woman wants so fiercely is a symbol for her own happiness, sitting alone out in the rain. When she mentions it, her husband merely offers to go get it for her without even getting up, or giving any indication that he would actually want to. When she goes down to look for it, she receives help from the hotel-keeper immediately, not even having to ask. The hotel-keeper takes direct action to help her obtain her desires, while her husband lays in bed and leaves her be. After coming back empty handed, she is distraught and seeks solace from her husband while she has a small crisis. He eventually gets irritated and tells her to shut up, ignoring her for the rest of the time that she talked. In her despair, without even knowing why or how badly she wanted it, the hotel-keeper retrieves the cat and orders it to be brought directly to her. One man goes out of his way to make her happy, the other makes minimal effort and ignores her while she struggles. While the audience does not know who the woman is or anything else about her life, they are given the clear message that she is not in a marriage where she can be truly content, but there are people in her life that would be willing to ensure her happiness.
In both stories, the writing style almost feels like a conversation. You are only told as much as the main character observes, but we are given just enough information to be able to read between the lines and find meaning. Both texts flow very smoothly, and are fairly easy to comprehend on the base level, making it easier to build up to searching for his purpose behind the story.
“A Day’s Wait”
ReplyDeleteIn Ernest Hemmingway’s “A Day’s Wait” irony and a theme of masculinity prevail. It begins with dramatic irony as the boy falls ill and the audience/the narrator are both aware of the diagnosis that the boy has a regular flu. The boy is unknowing of the explanation for his illness and therefore worries a great deal about it. The book his father chooses to read to him is titled Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates. This is where the theme of masculinity is first thrown in. Pirates are symbols of strong, courageous men. As a result, the boy feels inspired to be mature and tells his father he has no need to stay at his side. His father then chooses to go hunting, which contributes to the theme of masculinity and adds to the irony --- the father hunts and kills while his son is at risk of dying himself. In the end the irony is revealed to the boy and the father; the boy misunderstands the way temperature conversions work and believed he was going to die inevitably. Hemingway’s style is very to the point. The tone was calm throughout the entire text which I feel contributed to the ironic tale.
“Cat in the Rain”
In this short story, a calm tone prevails much like the first story. It is made apparent that the husband and wife that this story revolves around are outsiders in the hotel they are staying in. No other Americans are staying where they are, and everyone is a stranger to them. The main theme seems to be loneliness and neglect. The woman in this story notices a cat, over the beautiful scenery or war monument, outside her window. She notices a small, frail cat alone in the rain - a symbol for her personal feelings of neglect. Additionally, the hotel keeper strongly reflects the woman’s isolated feelings. She feels many positive emotions towards the man because he cares for her (because it is his job after all) more than her husband, George, ever has. This story was significantly more depressing than the first as it is calm in tone like the first, but sad in mood while the first one had a humorous flair.
A Day's Wait
ReplyDeleteThis story creates a worried and darker mood from the beginning, highlighting the concern of the father for his ill boy. From the color diction used for the white-faced boy to the description of the atmosphere outside, a sense of death floats throughout this entire story, creating a sense of mystery and making me curious to see what was coming next. However, it was almost relieving to see that the boy cared about everyone else getting his sickness, just as they were all worried about him (despite that creating an itch in my mind that this is probably contagious and would probably kill him).
Cat in the Rain
Having a lighter mood than the story previous, this story highlights a sense of longing and loneliness as the woman seeks the cat. I enjoyed how a simple companionship, such as having the cat, changed this woman's mood to one of almost excitement before it was all ripped away from her. Then, she begins discussing things that she would wish to change, like her hair, hinting to me that she wishes to start making her own decisions and have a partner who would support her, rather than tell her to "go shut up and read" something. Upon receiving the cat in the end, her mood rockets and I felt a sense of satisfaction. Moral of the story: cats are the only thing that can bring true happiness.
What I like:
I liked the simplicity of both of the texts; I read through once and had a clear understanding of what was going on throughout them . The style of writing was pleasing to my mind, as it created the moods and tensions where it needed to quite well, yet still delved deep into the storyline. Yay Hemingway.