Wharton uses the symbols of the cat and pickle dish as figurative language. The cat represents Zeena, and is attributed to her through its movements and placement,  “the cat, unbidden, jumped between them into Zeena’s empty chair”. The cat makes multiple attempts to sit in Zeena’s chair, which makes Ethan uncomfortable, because it makes him feel like Zeena is still there. The pickle dish represents Ethan and Zeena’s relationship, which is destroyed when the cat escapes, like how Zeena left to get medicine. Ethan is not mad that it is broken, but rather hides the pieces and plans on getting a new one.