The wife is unhappy in her life , who expresses a yearning for things feminine (brushing her hair, her own silver, candles, table and new clothes ) but mostly she wants the cat. All of these things have another meanings (to be a women, having family , love and romance , stability and changing ), but the possibility of conceiving a child seems remote because George's most direct comments are "Shut up and get something to read" and "I think you think look pretty darn good" in response to her wish to grow out her hair. He is more interested in his book than he is in her. The wife, on the other hand, appreciates the way the hotelkeeper makes her feel important and he is ready help her to. At the end she get the cat and her life stated to change .
To conclude , we have two main characters in Hemingway's story , George who is no support his wife and his wife who speaks up to achieving her own rights