How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
There were only two Americans stopping at the hotel. (1)
"Only" is a pretty lonely word. It relates a feeling of solitude and seclusion, and it just so happens to be the third word in this story. Right off the bat, we get a sense of the isolation surrounding this unhappy couple.
Quote #2
Outside right under their window a cat was crouched under one of the dripping green tables. (2)
What a pitiful, pitiful image. Whether you like cats or not, it's a little hard not to feel bad for this little one. This scene is crucial to the story because it becomes the image into which all the wife's feelings of isolation are centered. It all boils down to this little image of the isolated, drippy cat. Poor thing—we definitely want to rescue it too.