They draw the CAT HARROW

Insights

Mutual Obstruction

The proverb serves as a metaphor for any situation where parties are locked in a pointless struggle, actively undermining each other's efforts. It signifies a complete breakdown of cooperation, leading to a stalemate where no one benefits.

Counterproductive Conflict

It illustrates the concept of counterproductive activity, where the energy expended results in a negative or neutral outcome. The conflict itself becomes the sole focus, preventing any forward movement or achievement of original goals.

Internal Contradiction

On a personal level, it can symbolize internal conflict or self-sabotage, where a person's own desires, beliefs, or actions are at odds, preventing them from achieving their goals.

Agricultural Inversion

The proverb's power derives from its obscure yet evocative agricultural imagery. A harrow is a tool used to break up and smooth soil for planting. A 'cat harrow' suggests a chaotic, destructive parody of this process, where contrary forces (like cats tied together) pull in opposite directions, ruining any chance of productive work. It paints a vivid picture of agricultural effort turned into pointless, mutually destructive conflict.

Psychology of Futility

This proverb captures the essence of zero-sum conflict, where parties are so focused on opposing each other that they ensure mutual failure. It reflects a psychological state of pure antagonism, where the goal is not to win but simply to ensure the other side does not. The phrase highlights the irrationality and futility inherent in such rivalries.

Political Discord

The phrase, particularly in Lindsay's 1554 usage, points to political or social discord. After lords 'brocht in ane bird to fyll the nest' (a metaphor for securing their own interests), they immediately fall into conflict, 'drawing the cat harrow'. This suggests that alliances built on self-interest are inherently unstable and prone to devolving into counterproductive infighting.

Rhetorical Devices

Metaphorical Imagery

The core of the proverb is the strange and powerful metaphor of a 'cat harrow', an imaginary tool of chaos. This surreal image effectively communicates the destructive and nonsensical nature of the conflict it describes.

Zoomorphism

The proverb uses the perceived contrary and combative nature of cats to describe a particular type of human interaction, attributing animalistic futility to human disagreements.

Cacophony

The hard, percussive sounds in 'cat' create a harsh auditory effect that mirrors the jarring and oppositional nature of the conflict being described.