There’s large amounts of symbolism in the story, especially in the latter half. To begin, the title of the story Cat’s Eye represents the marble that Elaine was fond of in her childhood. She stated that the marble was something she could protect herself with, and it represented her lost childhood because as time carries on, she didn’t care much for the marble and forgot about it completely till she discovered it much later on in her life. It symbolized her innocence and who she was, and when she lost the marble, she lost that part of herself as well.
Later on, Elaine’s paintings have been revealed to the public, and it’s been made clear what those paintings represent. She talks about several paintings she made, describing them all in detail, and as the pieces tie together, one realizes that these paintings had a great deal to do with who she is and her past. Elaine describes an aspect of one of her paintings, saying “[s]he is the Virgin of Lost Things. Between her hands, at the level of her heart, she holds a glass object: an oversized cat’s eye marble, with a blue center. (200)
This describes how the Virgin of Lost Things, was holding a cat’s eye marble, the same marble from Elaine’s childhood. It’s safe to assume that the marble is the lost thing, and as previously mentioned the marble represented Elaine’s childhood and identity. This is just one example, as there are several other paintings depicting certain aspects of Elaine’s identity and her journey through life. There are multiple allusions in the story Cat’s Eye as religion is a reoccurring topic in the story.
The Virgin Mary is one of the main allusions in the story, as she is the main religious figure Elaine looks up to in her childhood. Virgin Mary is also a concept that Elaine likes to paint a lot. During the night while painting Virgin Mary, Elaine describes her painting, saying “Virgin Mary descending to the earth, which is covered with snow and slush. She is wearing a winter coat over her blue robe, and has a purse slung over her shoulder. She’s carrying two brown paper bags full of groceries.
Several things have fallen from the bags: an egg, an onion, an apple. She looks tired. ” (168) This shows Elaine’s perspective of the Virgin Mary, compared to what she used to think of the Virgin Mary as a child. Ordinary, but always dubbed as willing to help, and Elaine seems to think of Virgin Mary as an actual human being instead of an angelic creation. Someone who gets tired from holding the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has a rather different perspective of religion, because as a child, she used religion as a way to fit in.
However this perspective is dropped eventually, and she regards religion as something bittersweet. The conclusion of the story is satisfying, albeit slightly understated. Most would expect a dramatic revelation, or an epiphany, however Margaret Atwood had a subtle way of tying things together. Elaine still has problems, and the demons inside her head never fully escape, but she recieved a sense of closure. As Elaine is standing by the bridge for one last farewell, she thinks “[t]here’s nothing more for me to see.
The bridge is only a bridge, the river a river, the sky is a sky. This landscape is empty now, a place for Sunday runners. Or not empty: filled with whatever it is by itself, when I’m not looking. ” (204) This signifies that whatever value this bridge held for, whatever change that happened here, no longer affects her. It’s merely a bridge in her eyes, and maybe when she turns away it becomes something so much more, but it’s best for her to not look at those kind of things, because there’s no point for her anymore.
Although she hasn’t walked away from her past unscathed, the fact that she can look at something that used to hold something traumatic for her, and not feel anything at all speaks volumes. She’s not letting that memory affect her anymore, or let that stand in the way of being who she is. She knows her faults, and she knows what she’s done. But she accepts that regardless, because that’s who she is, and there’s no point dwelling on it. Elaine thinks right before leaving for home is, “[i]t’s old light, and there’s not much of it.
But it’s enough to see by” (205) Toronto held a lot of bad memories for her, and sometimes she thought that living in general was a horrible thing that she didn’t want to participate in any longer. But looking back at her past, she realizes that this is what made her who she is, and she finally was able to let her worries and grudges go. The bitterness no longer played a major part in her life, and although her past held a lot of terrible memories, she got by, and she was able to survive. Elaine is an interesting, complex character, and with this last sentence, it truly shows how a character like her truly lived her life.
