"Cat in the Rain" Summary

An American couple is staying at an Italian hotel. The wife becomes obsessed with a cat caught out in the rain. She goes out to rescue it but cannot find it. When she returns to her room, she complains about her life. The maid comes up with the cat a few minutes later.

"Cat in the Rain" Analysis

The cat that the American wife sees outside becomes a symbol for her own femininity and fertility. The American wife pursues the cat because she feels that these qualities are missing from her own life. This is further shown in the way she evaluates her appearance, wanting to appear more feminine. The American husband, on the other hand, stands in the way of her desires, discouraging her from seeking the cat and urging her to be content...