Critical-Expressive Analysis Essay for "Cat Person" by Kristen Roupenian

Introduction

In her story, 'Cat Person' Kristen writes a story about the college student called Margot and her boyfriend who is a bit older than her. They began dating two weeks after exchanging their phone numbers. Since they did not know each other well, Margot begins creating some images and feelings about Robert. She always had bad feelings about Robert though they were not based on Facts. Their relationship was full of ups and downs due to the unfounded feelings that Margot had over Robert. After Margot agreeing to go to Robert's house for sex, she begins to have negative feelings about Robert though the sexual encounter eventually takes place. Finally, they break up after having sex which went sour. Different people see the story from different perspectives based on their experiences and gender.

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This is a romance story that abruptly turns sour after the partners had terrible sex. Most women all over the world applaud the story arguing that it honestly shows how modern dating in the world that is crazed with technology is controversial. The males also criticize the story by sympathizing with the male in the story. There have been forums for both men and women whose aim is to air their views from different perspectives. The story revolves around a college student named Margot who is barely 20 years old girls working in a cinema. She falls into a flirtation with a man called Robert. The story vividly captures what one requires to be a woman. As the relationship of the two develops, the balance of power between them began shifting back and fro, she quickly cycles between the imaginations that Robert is naive, adorable and completely overtaken by her beauty and seeing him as a murderous brute. She continues building an image of Robert based on the unreliable and incomplete information. The racing of her mind disturbed her very much because her mind was telling her that Robert is a serial killer. That was the reason as to why the way she interpreted him wouldn't stay still.

There is much controversy about the character of Margot based on the way she behaves and the kind of lenses upon which she sees Robert. Though she represented a college girl is well-educated, thin and young her character tells something that is entirely different. She portrays a figure which had enormous privileges as well as a disempowered figure. The whole story focuses on identifying where she exactly stands regarding her character, behavior, and attitude. The story in a clear and concise manner shows what dating entails for a 20-year-old girl. It wholly reflects the interior of the middle-class society in the Western World. It shows the way the middle-class women try to contemplate what is in the mind of a man more especially the ones dating. They raise red flags on men though at the same time they want to be viewed as being friendly and polite.

The story is narrated in the third person, and the short-lived relationship between Margot and Robert is told from Margot's point of view. She dominates the story due to her condescending character over Robert. Robert is slightly older than her, but despite that, the girl seems to take control over the dating issues. Robert likes going to the concession stand to purchase Red vines. Their dating began through the exchange of text messages after their first meeting and changing their phone numbers. The texting started two weeks after the meeting. The texting shows how the ion the modern society texting has taken the place of knowing each other physically. In the contemporary world of technology, people date and share critical information online. However, when the meeting takes place things to fall apart because the expectations build through imagination are not met. The story shows how bad sex can break relationships. The two lovers ended up going to bed even before they loved each other. Since Margot felt that the kind of sex she had with Robert was not good, she rejected Robert making the relationship to end on a nasty note.

The Uncomfortable romantic episodes between Robert and Margot resonate with several women in the current society. The women seem to be in support of Margot while men support Robert, therefore making the story a gender battle. This is likely what the author wanted to demonstrate. Margot is a college sophomore, and she works at the movie theater on the campus. Immediately after revealing their intentions for dating the things began moving from bad to worse. .The feelings that Margot had were so strong that she sometimes even abused Robert. The following quotes attest to that:``You are getting better at your job,' 'he told her. You managed not to insult me this time.''

The climax of the story is when is when the two agree and then prepare to have sexual intercourse. Margot felt that she was not ready for Robert. On seeing his naked body, instead of feeling good she was filled with disgust. The nakedness of Robert did not elicit any romantic feelings, but thoughts of guilty and uncertainty engulfed her. She ends the relationship in a clever way because she is not the one who does it but her friend helped her to do so. Irrespective of the negative feelings she feels that backing out will not be a good idea; therefore, she decides to go forward with the sexual encounter. The after having sex, she struggles with the feelings and begins to devise ways in which they can break off. The heart and love feelings that Robert had for Margot were sincere despite the negative responses she got which eventually led to rejection: `Thank you for your presents,'' she said. The text shows that Robert used to give her presents.

Much of the story is knit in such a way that it is a back and forth dialogue as well as a few non-verbal cues amongst them which alter the playing field instantly. When Margot decided to go to Robert's house, she asked her several questions. She wondered if Robert's house was a lair of a twisted killer. Vertigo that engulfed Margot at several points as the story progresses is a demonstration of uncertainty. She certainly does not have substantial evidence that Robert is bad, but it is just the feelings she had without any concrete evidence (Roupenian). Despite the breaking of the relationship and the bad feelings she had against Robert, they had constant communication through texting. The following texts attest to that:

`Why are you texting all the time? 'Margot's stepdad asked at dinner. 'Are you having an affair with someone. `Yes'', Margot said. The text shows that they had good moments too.

The author at one point is trying to show that relationships that begin with faceless interactions do not end up well. Technology makes it possible for people to know each other without a meeting but at the same time, it creates a barrier since the concerned people do not meet and get time to know each other well. Depending on one's gender, the story is seen from different perspectives. There are those who see Robert as a nice and well-behaved gentleman who got a wrong lady while others say what Margot did was good because a lady has a freedom to choose whom to date. The story vividly captures the feelings that young women have when they are dating. However, both Margot and Robert have their mistakes. Robert is a man in his forties who is struggling with the issues about her body to the extent that he has become enamored with Margot.

Conclusion

There are many episodes in the story where he tried to over-impress Margot unsuccessfully. After feeling rejected, he began responding with rage because he would not understand why Margot had negative feelings about her. At some point, she would also feel lonely and started daydreaming and missed Robert, but she came to note that that it was not the real Robert that she needed but the imagined one who only existed in memory. It is usual for men and women who are dating to have fantasies over their partners before they know each other well but after being close and understanding each other's weaknesses frustrations begin.

Works Cited

Roupenian, Kristen. Cat Person. The New Yorker. 2017. Retrieved from (https://www.newyorker. com/magazine/2017/12/11/cat-person