The Woman Figure in Hemingway's "Cat in the Rain" and "Hills Like White Elephants"

The woman figure in Ernest Hemingway’s “Cat in the Rain” and “Hills Like White Elephants” are both different and similar. The wives in both short stories are dealing with issues regarding pregnancy and babies. In “Cat in the Rain,” the wife has a strong desire to have her own baby from the very start. However, initially, the wife in “Hills Like White Elephants” has her doubts and does not seem to want to have the baby that she is carrying as seen through her comment that the hills “look like white elephants.” The women in both stories are also traveling and visiting different places. Both wives seem to enjoy traveling but the wife in “Cat in the Rain” wants more out of life. Her comments that she wants longer hair, a cat sitting on her lap, candles, her own set of silverware, and new clothes show that she is unsatisfied with life. Her strong statements near the end that she wants a cat immediately demonstrate her extreme yearning for a child and a different life. This can be contrasted to the wife in “Hills Like White Elephants” because she seems to be lamenting the change that the birth of her child will bring about in her life and her relationship. She believes that they won’t be able to travel the world as much and that their love for each other will deteriorate. She is more resistant to change than the wife in “Cat in the Rain.” However, both women characterize very similar ways of thinking and expression. In contrast to the direct, rational, and literal way in which the husbands communicate, the wives use a more metaphorical and figurative approach. They use phrases and symbols to indicate their thoughts and wants instead of plainly stating it. For example, the cat in “Cat in the Rain” symbolizes a baby for the wife and the phrase “hills like white elephants” are a metaphor for the pregnancy of “Jig.” Both women strive to gain the attention of their husbands to feel loved and get them to figure out how they are feeling. Jig uses subtle phrases and tries to get her husband to recognize how “bright” her comparison of the mountains to the white elephants was. The other wife tries to get her husband’s opinion on her hair and tell him all of the things that she wants. In addition, both wives seem to be in decaying relationships. As mentioned before, the wife in “Cat in the Rain” seems to want a different and new life and the wife in “Hills Like White Elephants” believes that if she does not abort, her relationship will be destroyed. However, the relationship in “Cat in the Rain” also displays some frailty because of the husband’s inattentiveness. Furthermore, the padrone giving her the cat represents another option and another life for the wife. Overall, towards the end of “Hills Like White Elephants,” the wife indicates that although she rejected the idea at first, she is considering having the baby, as shown by her final words, “There is nothing wrong with me. I feel fine.” Therefore, at the end of each story, both women are in a position where they desire newborns.

Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" and Banksy Artwork

In his essay "Shooting an Elephant," George Orwell uses metaphor and symbolism in order to demonstrate his true feelings towards the British Empire and its decline, and show a situation that humans have to deal with in everyday life. From the beginning of the essay, the readers are able to see the British influence over the colonies through Orwell's telling of the fact that the Burmans played soccer and had soccer fields. However, the Burmans' constant harassing and fearless taunting of Orwell and other Europens shows some of the deterioration of the British Empire. Overall, the elephant in Orwell's essay is an extended metaphor for the British Empire and its effect and control over the Indian colonies. Orwell states that the Burmans had no weapons or any way to defend themselves against the elephant's upheaval. This metaphorically shows the impotent and helpless initial state of the Burmese population against the British Empire. The elephant's rampage through fruit stands and assault on livestock symbolizes the British takeover and raid over the Indian economy. Later on, Orwell tells of the elephant's trampling of an Indian "coolie," metaphorically showing the British violence through colonization and demonstrating Orwell's view of the British Empire. Furthermore, the deceased's body position of crucifixion is another metaphor of the European influence over the Indian colonies and their imposing of their religious beliefs. When the narrator calls for the elephant rifle, he remarks that the Burmans were uninterested when the elephant was destroying their houses but now that they saw that the elephant was going to get shot, their interest peaked. This can be seen as both a metaphor for the human appeal to violence and the Burman satisfaction at the upcoming destruction of their oppressor. Orwell's struggle against the crowd near the end is a metaphor of the battle with conformity that humans often face. The elephant's slow and long death symbolizes the British Empire's own gradual and prolonged downfall. The last minutes of life where the elephant is down but still breathing can also be seen as a metaphor for the continued yet powerless presence of the British Empire in some colonies at the time. Orwell's final thoughts show how easily a crowd can "colonize" a human being and take his freedom away. Ultimately, Orwell's use of metaphor throughout the narrative helps to shape his story into an essay with underlying content.

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I chose this particular piece of artwork by Banksy because I thought it was very subtle, yet quite interesting. The rat seems to be stuck inside a hamster wheel with no way out and the "No stopping" sign seems to be keeping it there. I believe Banksy is trying to say that humans are like the rat in the wheel. The times where the cars are not allowed to stop are very similar and close to the work hours of the average person. Therefore, in this case, the wheel represents work. Banksy is saying that humans are forced to abide by a certain work schedule which gives them very limited, if any, freedom. The ideals of society, represented by the "No stopping" sign, often make humans conform and not challenge the norm. Banksy is saying that people are stuck in a continuous cycle imposed by society thereby making us no more than rodents inside a hamster wheel.

I believe Banksy's message is very similar and can be compared to another one of his artworks:
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