"My Antonia"

Paper Summary:

This paper contends that it is the undertones of Willa Cather's lesbian sexuality, her use of the second person narrative technique
and her portrayal of Jim that form the basis of friendship and memory in her novel "My Antonia".

From the Paper:

"Antonia has become the central figure she always was meant to
be, enduring the constant toil and the oppressive sod cave and then
as the vivacious town teenager. "It's no wonder that her sons stood
tall and straight. She was a rich mine of life, like the founders of
early races" (167). Antonia lived her whole life in action as opposed
to Jim's pensive reflection. She milked, broke sod, shocked wheat,
harvested, sacrificed schooling to help on the farm, learned a new
language, fell in love, got jilted and a baby to raise on her own,
and then started all over again to build a life and a new family. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cather, Willa. "My Antonia". Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1994
• Goldberg, Jonathan. "Willa Cather and Sexuality" in The Cambridge Companion to Willa Cather. Pgs. 80-100. New York. Cambridge University Press. 2004
• Goldman, Anne E. "Rereading My Antonia" in The Cambridge Companion to Willa Cather. Pgs.159-174. New York. Cambridge University Press. 2004
• Lindemann, Marilee. "Introduction" to The Cambridge Companion to Willa Cather. Pgs. 1-16. New York. Cambridge University Press. 2004

More papers on "My Antonia":

• Book Review # 93840 : "My Antonia" -- A Review"
• Persuasive Essay # 124491 : "Protagonists in "My Antonia"
• Analytical Essay # 62625 : "My Antonia"
• Analytical Essay # 31151 : "My Antonia"

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