"My Antonia" -- A Review

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes Willa Cather's novel "My Antonia" with an emphasis on gender roles and the novel's autobiographical relationship to its author. The paper also focuses on Cather's immigrant experience as reflected in this work. Also discussed are the different cultures existing in the American West at the time and how they interacted with one another. The paper concludes by citing Antonia's character as an example of both immigrant and female endurance who was able to ultimately achieve the "American Dream".

From the Paper:

" Antonia's struggle and eventual triumph over her early circumstances also vividly underscores the American truth of immigrant hardship; endurance; and (in some cases though not others, e.g., Antonia's own father) eventual success in America. In addition, while Jim moves away in order to pursue the "American Dream", Antonia, in her seemingly more circuitous journey toward it, stays in Nebraska. Jim first loses himself in New York in order to find himself again in Nebraska, Antonia in Nebraska alone: through endurance; hard work, and struggle to make a life. Further, Antonia and Jim, despite coming from different backgrounds and places in the American social hierarchy become friends. But subsequently they grow apart, meeting again in Nebraska only 20 years later. Jim becomes a lawyer and pursues the "American Dream" of big city life and financial success. Yet ultimately he finds it hollow. Antonia, on the other hand, marries a Czech farmer and together they make their farm and family life flourish."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cather, Willa. My Antonia. New York: Mariner, 1995.---. Nebraska: The End of the First Cycle. The Nation. Vol. 117, Iss. 3035 (September 5, 1923). [The Nation Digital Archives]. Retrieved April 9, 2006, from: < http://www.nationarchive.com/Summaries/v117i3035_07.htm>.
• Luebke, Frederick C. Nebraska: An Illustrated History. University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln, 1995.
• Martin, Terrence. "The Drama of Memory in My Antonia." PMLA, Vol. 84, No. 2 (March, 1969). 304-311. Retrieved April 9, 2006, from:<http://links.jstor.org /sici?sici=0030-8129%28196903%2984%3A2%3C304%3ATDOMI%22% 3E2.0.CO%3B2-2&size=SMALL.html>.
• Norris, Kathleen. "Willa Cather." American Masters [PBS]. Retrieved April 9, 2006, from:<http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/cathe r_w.html>.
• Palmer, Scott. "The Train of Thought": Classed Travel and Nationality in Willa Cather's My Antonia." Studies in American Fiction, Vol. 29 (2001). Retrieved April 8, 2006, from: < http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000664729.html>.

More papers on "My Antonia" -- A Review:

• Analytical Essay # 124493 : "Overcoming Challenges in "My Antonia"
• Analytical Essay # 44844 : "My Antonia"
• Book Review # 120269 : "Myths Perpetuated in Willa Cather's "My Antonia"

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