This story was easier to comprehend and relate to than "Under the Ridge". All of Hemingway's stories leave me with an odd feeling; sometimes, it's almost sad but I can't quite tell.
This couple seems to be more in love than most of Hemingway's couples. There's still a conflict and the couple is still unhappy, but I think they're unhappy due to circumstance and not by a lack of love for one another. The husband is blind, and I'd like to know what made him blind. It's clear that he wasn't always blind, but it's not clear when he went blind or why. The iceberg effect can be obnoxious in this aspect because I want all the details, but they're not always there. The husband is extremely worried about his wife's welfare. He thinks that if she has to keep taking care of him, it will wear her out and "destroy her life." Maybe he doesn't realize how much she loves him, or maybe he is underestimating her strength. I think this couple has been put into a bad situation and they aren't sure how to handle it yet. The blindness must be somewhat new because they seem to still be grieving the loss of his sight and their old lifestyle.
The comments about the dark were interesting. "This isn't like the real dark. I can see very well inside." The husband tries to be more optimistic about his condition and his fate, while the wife is more distressed by it. I think it distresses her because she can tell that her husband is only trying to appear strong. She even tells him "You don't have to be so bloody noble." She knows he wants to be brave, but she doesn't expect him to be.
The way that this couple interacts is indicative of a strong, long-term relationship. I think it's sweet that they have "barred" phrases. It's like they've been together for so long that they have gotten tired of certain terms and made it a game not to use them.
I think I like this couple. They aren't arguing over an abortion, or having a hard break-up. They're hurt and it's sad, but I think they can get through it. I have hope for the couple in this story.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cat in the Rain: another husband and wife story
A lot of the Ernest Hemingway stories we have read have been about a couple. It is always an American couple and there are usually somewhere other than America. I suppose that this is familiar to Hemingway since he did go through more than one wife.
I think "Cat in the Rain" has an air of loneliness. It opens with a description of the hotel and makes the distinction that this man and woman are the only two Americans in the hotel. Then, Hemingway adds a sentence that I think truly sets up the lonely, isolated scene: "They did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on their way to and from their room." This couple is alone. They only have each other for companionship. This may not be a bad thing, but the wife's dialogue indicates that she wants more than she is getting. She seems discontent. The way that she stares at herself in the mirror and analyzes her appearance tells me that she is seeking attention. Also, it seems that she is seeking substance. She wants to grow her hair out for two reasons: 1, so she doesn't look like a boy anymore and 2, so she can "make a big knot at the back that [she] can feel." Her current haircut is not substantial enough for her. She goes on to say she wants a cat that will "sit on [her] lap and purr." She seeks attention and love. She wants something that is small and can sit with her and love her for everything she does.
It's possible that what she is also seeking is motherhood. The couple seems to be childless-like many of Hemingway's other couples. In that case, the wife's hairstyle making her look like a boy would be more distressing to her. It's possible that she wants longer hair and a bun because she considers those to be more matronly styles. The cat could be a substitution for a baby. She also says she wants to sit "at a table with [her] own silver." This indicates a want for a more settled lifestyle. I think she is tired of traveling and being in strange places and hotels. She feels it's time to go home again.
Even though the wife seems discontent, this couple appears to have a better relationship than the others we have read about. Although the husband does tell her to shut up once, he spends the rest of the story paying attention to her and trying to be good to her. He offers to go get the cat for her. When she speaks, he doesn't take his eyes off of her. When she comments on her haircut, he tells her that she looks "darn nice" and disagrees that she needs to grow it out. He pays attention to her until she starts to go on about what she wants, particularly the cat. The two seem to want different lifestyles. I think George is fine with living in different hotels, while the wife wants a home.
I think that Hemingway's use of names is interesting. Although the wife does the majority of the talking and action, she is only named as "the American wife." Her husband, however, gets to be named. Why is this?
I think "Cat in the Rain" has an air of loneliness. It opens with a description of the hotel and makes the distinction that this man and woman are the only two Americans in the hotel. Then, Hemingway adds a sentence that I think truly sets up the lonely, isolated scene: "They did not know any of the people they passed on the stairs on their way to and from their room." This couple is alone. They only have each other for companionship. This may not be a bad thing, but the wife's dialogue indicates that she wants more than she is getting. She seems discontent. The way that she stares at herself in the mirror and analyzes her appearance tells me that she is seeking attention. Also, it seems that she is seeking substance. She wants to grow her hair out for two reasons: 1, so she doesn't look like a boy anymore and 2, so she can "make a big knot at the back that [she] can feel." Her current haircut is not substantial enough for her. She goes on to say she wants a cat that will "sit on [her] lap and purr." She seeks attention and love. She wants something that is small and can sit with her and love her for everything she does.
It's possible that what she is also seeking is motherhood. The couple seems to be childless-like many of Hemingway's other couples. In that case, the wife's hairstyle making her look like a boy would be more distressing to her. It's possible that she wants longer hair and a bun because she considers those to be more matronly styles. The cat could be a substitution for a baby. She also says she wants to sit "at a table with [her] own silver." This indicates a want for a more settled lifestyle. I think she is tired of traveling and being in strange places and hotels. She feels it's time to go home again.
Even though the wife seems discontent, this couple appears to have a better relationship than the others we have read about. Although the husband does tell her to shut up once, he spends the rest of the story paying attention to her and trying to be good to her. He offers to go get the cat for her. When she speaks, he doesn't take his eyes off of her. When she comments on her haircut, he tells her that she looks "darn nice" and disagrees that she needs to grow it out. He pays attention to her until she starts to go on about what she wants, particularly the cat. The two seem to want different lifestyles. I think George is fine with living in different hotels, while the wife wants a home.
I think that Hemingway's use of names is interesting. Although the wife does the majority of the talking and action, she is only named as "the American wife." Her husband, however, gets to be named. Why is this?
An Afternoon with Linh
Yesterday, I took Linh to smashburger. She had never been there before. My boyfriend tagged along. He thinks Linh is funny and likes to hang out with us.
Linh told us that she doesn't like hamburgers too often, but she is always willing to try one from a new place. At smashburger, she ordered her burger with a chipotle bun. When we sat down and our food arrived, Linh thought the set-up was so interesting that she wanted to take a picture of it. She said she had never seen a burger served like that. It reminded her of how people in Vietnam treat McDonald's and other fast food places. She told us that in Vietnam, people will have their birthday parties and dates at McDonald's. She said that they dress up and treat it more formally than we do here. Andrew and I thought this was weird, but Linh explained that it is because fast food restaurants in Vietnam are expensive. It is much less expensive to go to a regular, Vietnamese restaraunt than it is to eat fast-food. Linh told us that seafood is also a lot cheaper in Vietnam. I wish that our restaraunts were cheaper than fast food.
When we started eating, Linh realized that something on her burger was too spicy. She thinks it was probably the bun and she doesn't want to order that type next time. Linh used mustard on her french fries, which I thought was interesting because I do that too. Linh uses mustard because she says ketchup is boring and she's tired of it. I use mustard because I don't like ketchup.
When we were at smashburger, two girls from Nolan Catholic walked in. Linh asked me if they were high school students and got excited. She used to go to a private military school in San Antonio. The girls' uniforms reminded her of the one she used to wear. She said that at the time, she thought the uniforms were ugly and she didn't like having to wear one. Now, Linh misses how easy it was to just put on the same uniform every day.
Later this week, we're going to get coffee and go to Barnes & Noble together. Next time we go out to eat, we're going to Chipotle. Linh is always so cheerful. She's always grateful that I'm spending time with her. I think it's a good experience for both of us.
Linh told us that she doesn't like hamburgers too often, but she is always willing to try one from a new place. At smashburger, she ordered her burger with a chipotle bun. When we sat down and our food arrived, Linh thought the set-up was so interesting that she wanted to take a picture of it. She said she had never seen a burger served like that. It reminded her of how people in Vietnam treat McDonald's and other fast food places. She told us that in Vietnam, people will have their birthday parties and dates at McDonald's. She said that they dress up and treat it more formally than we do here. Andrew and I thought this was weird, but Linh explained that it is because fast food restaurants in Vietnam are expensive. It is much less expensive to go to a regular, Vietnamese restaraunt than it is to eat fast-food. Linh told us that seafood is also a lot cheaper in Vietnam. I wish that our restaraunts were cheaper than fast food.
When we started eating, Linh realized that something on her burger was too spicy. She thinks it was probably the bun and she doesn't want to order that type next time. Linh used mustard on her french fries, which I thought was interesting because I do that too. Linh uses mustard because she says ketchup is boring and she's tired of it. I use mustard because I don't like ketchup.
When we were at smashburger, two girls from Nolan Catholic walked in. Linh asked me if they were high school students and got excited. She used to go to a private military school in San Antonio. The girls' uniforms reminded her of the one she used to wear. She said that at the time, she thought the uniforms were ugly and she didn't like having to wear one. Now, Linh misses how easy it was to just put on the same uniform every day.
Later this week, we're going to get coffee and go to Barnes & Noble together. Next time we go out to eat, we're going to Chipotle. Linh is always so cheerful. She's always grateful that I'm spending time with her. I think it's a good experience for both of us.
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