Relationships

Cat’s Eye is a study of many different kinds of relationships. Elaine’s relationship with her family is happy, stable, and unlike any other family relationships she observes. She has a very close relationship with her older brother Stephen, who is her playmate and mentor. Her first friendships are typical and innocent, but then her relationships with her friends devolve into a twisted game that affects her on a level so deep that she blocks the relationships from her memory. There are several “love” relationships: the bizarre love triangle with Elaine, Josef, and Susie; the tumultuous relationship between Elaine and Jon; and the peaceful, happy relationship between Elaine and Ben. There is also the relationship that Elaine has with her own daughters, which is fraught with anxiety as they are growing up. Elaine’s relationships with God, with women and other artists, and with art can also...