Meaning & Analysis
Literally, the proverb describes someone who has acquired a cat with two tails, a creature that does not exist in nature. It implies that the person's achievement is as fantastical and unreal as their initial hopes were.
Insights
Unrealistic Expectations
The proverb is a classic critique of unrealistic expectations. The 'cat with two tails' symbolizes an impossible goal or a fantastical prize, and 'getting' it means one's hopes were absurd from the start.
Ironic Success
The phrase 'hoped well' is deeply ironic. It feigns praise for someone's ambition while actually mocking them for pursuing an impossible fantasy. The 'success' is as imaginary as the hope was foolish.
Deception and Illusion
The two-tailed cat can be seen as a metaphor for a deceptive prize or an illusion. Achieving such a goal might mean one has been tricked or has obtained something that only appears valuable but is fundamentally false or worthless.
Folklore and the Unnatural
The proverb taps into a folkloric or fantastical imagination, using the image of a biologically impossible creature—a two-tailed cat—to represent the absurd. This reflects a cultural tendency to use monstrous or unnatural imagery to critique human folly.
Social Satire
This proverb functions as a form of social satire, using irony to mock and correct individuals with overly ambitious or unrealistic desires. The annotation 'A Jest upon People of large Expectations' confirms its role as a tool for social policing against hubris or foolishness.
Psychology of Hope
Psychologically, the proverb targets the human capacity for wishful thinking and self-deception. It serves as a stark reminder that hope, without a grounding in reality, is not a virtue but a form of foolishness that invites ridicule.
Rhetorical Devices
Irony
The proverb's primary power comes from irony. The phrase 'hoped well' is used sarcastically to mean the opposite, ridiculing the person's judgment rather than praising their optimism.
Symbolism
The 'cat with two tails' serves as a potent symbol for any goal that is impossible, absurd, or contrary to nature. It's a memorable image that instantly conveys the idea of a foolish quest.
Hyperbole
The use of a fantastical, non-existent creature is a form of hyperbole that exaggerates the foolishness of the person's expectations, making the critique more pointed and humorous.
Transcription
Quotations
You'll get the Cat with the two Tails.
Annotations
- A Jest upon People of large Expectations.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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