John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat
The picture is quite interesting because it shows John Brown drawing a line for the midnight cat. However, as the story continues, it is apparent that Brown needs the midnight cat. He changes his mind after the death of Rose and it realizes that it wants a new companion. From the picture, both Brown and the midnight cat look lonely, and the only bright part is the front part of Brown. It means that it exclusively focusses on the next things it can see, such as the fact that it comfortably lives with Rose but does not think that it may want the Midnight cat as a companion. The back part of Brown is, however dark implying that it does not focus on what may happen in its other components. The dog appears more comfortable than the can in the picture.
The positioning of the dog and the cat on the picture depicts the dog’s good feeling. It takes a considerable part of the page, and it extends its body towards the cat while the cat that occupies the small space seems worried about its situation. The cat, however, seems comfortable from the way it pauses. However, its dark colour signifies bad omen, and probably that’s why Brown does not like it. The grey background depicts a sombre mood. The words in the picture show that Rose was safe in bed when Brown went out and drew a line around the house and warned the midnight cat to stay away. The comfort that Rose had that night might have confused Brown thinking that he never wanted another companion. Brown said, “We don’t need you, cat.”
The page is essential to the ideas of jealousy that is depicted in the story. The cat is represented in a sleek and threatening way which makes brown not to feel comfortable around it. Brown perceives the cat as an intruder from the outside that wants to mess up with the peace that the two elderly companions have had hence the reason for fighting and rejecting it. The most exciting part is that the cat is comfortable and does not seem to go away. Accepting strangers in people’s lives can sometimes be hard, especially when life is enjoyable. That is precisely the Brown’s feeling. The line drawn between the cat and the dog does not seem strong enough to prevent the midnight cat from entering the house. It is jealousy that the dog has, which may not be depicted on the picture that is the main thing. They can, therefore, get into the house without fear. What is even more impressive is the fact that Rose accepted the cat. Accepting the cat meant that there was nothing tangible that prevented the cat from entering the life of the elderly friends. The change of mind by John Brown evidences that it requires the cat in its mind. The picture suggests that it is wrong to reject the cat because of the immediate pleasure that it had with Rose. It is, therefore, right for Brown to change its mind.
Works Cited
Wagner, Jenny, Pauline Brailsford, and Ron Brooks. John Brown, Rose and the midnight cat. Puffin, 1977.
