Can associative arrays be implemented by operator overloading?

I am looking for a good excuse to pick up C++. I have been a satisfied
C programmer for years, a language that provides me all the facilities
that I need, with ONE exception.

I keep on finding programming problems that can be nicely solved by
the use of relational arrays. I wish I could count on the simplicity
of expression afforded by Java:

   array.put(key, data);

or -even better- by Perl:

   pictureOf{"ramon"} = myimage.gif; // or something to that effect

My question is two-fold:

(1) Which relational array implementation should I use? A while ago I
posted a similar question in this NG and I was surprised to read that
one of the recommended packages was Berkeley DB from Sleepycat (Oracle
property these days). Since I was referring to RAM-based arrays, I was
told that all I had to do is keep it in RAM instead of the normal disk-
based database file. Berkeley DB has a heavier footprint for what I
have in mind. Isn't there an implementation of relational arrays in
the standard, or even in the de facto commonly used C++ libraries?

(2) Let's say I found a perfect implementation that suits my needs. Is
there a way to overload the bracket operators to make them behave like
in Perl? Please don't tell me that the only interesting/elegant case
of operator overloading is in complex arithmetic!

TIA,

-Ramon