The Cat (Symbol)
The Cat introduces Sally and her brother to a new, fantastical world, one ungoverned by rules and authority. Committed to showing the children how to properly amuse themselves using their imagination, the Cat’s balancing game and unleashing of the Thing incites chaos and madness in the house. With his disregard for most social conventions and rules, the Cat symbolizes chaos, fun, and rebellion against authority.
The fish (Symbol)
Embracing an authoritative role during the children's mother's absence, the fish constantly cautions the children about the Cat out of concern for the order and cleanliness of the house. Where the Cat symbolizes mischief and chaos, the Fish represents authority and domesticity. The central conflict of the story hinges on the clash between the two characters’ worldviews: whether the children should join in on the Cat’s fun, or if they should adhere to the rules enforced by the fish.
Fun (Motif)
The Cat in the Hat carefully examines young children’s relationship to fun. At the beginning of the book, Sally and her brother passively gaze out of their window. While the rain inhibits the possibility of outdoor play, they do not explore other play options indoors, and have essentially surrendered to their own boredom. As a fierce advocate for fun and imagination, the Cat wishes to challenge the children’s current genteel behavior and introduce them to new forms of amusement. As he balances books, teacups, and other household items, he begs the children to watch his act, screaming “Look at me!/Look at me!/Look at me NOW!/It is fun to have fun/But you have to know how” (87-91). Clearly, the Cat believes that the children’s current conception of fun is deficient, and he views himself as a role model who can indoctrinate them with more mischievous, imaginative fun.
In the final stanzas of the book, the children’s mother asks them, “Did you have any fun?/Tell me. What did you do?” (296-297). Like the Cat, the mother wants the children to have fun and enjoy their childhood. However, because we know so little about the mother, it remains unclear if her idea of “fun” aligns with a domesticized, rules-driven worldview—as embodied by the fish—or a more free-spirited, anarchic one—as embodied by the Cat.
