Abstract
This paper examines Willa Cather's famous novel, "My Antonia," and the myths Cather perpetuated in the work about the West. These common beliefs are described as the evil railroads, the success of the immigrant country people, and their innate superiority over the townspeople. The paper systematically deconstructs these myths, showing how they were a necessary to the novel and part of the national psyche when it was written. The reviewer concludes that Cather's myths created a fascinating and interesting novel, but not one with a deep and abiding message.

From the Paper
"Antonia's pregnancy is an important part of the story in that it forces the reader to come to the conclusion that the railroads, and their employees, were criminal and immoral. As Jim Burden recalled, "Poor Antonia! Every one would be saying that now, I thought bitterly.... Antonia went away to marry Larry Donovan at some place where he was working; that he had deserted her, and that there was now a baby. This was all I knew." Larry Donovan, the fired railroad conductor, was a consummate ladies man, and the downfall of Antonia. When she marries Cuzak, there is an impression that Antonia was better off 1) not marrying an American working on the railroad, and 2) marrying a Bohemian, someone of her own kind."

Tags:West, Bohemian immigrants, women, railroads

Abstract
This paper discusses how the idea of the danger of the traditionally romanticized artistic process, of artist living apart from the world in enslavement to the muse, runs through many of Cather?s short stories. It looks at how, in three of her short works, a protagonist whose intellect or ability distances him from society has a featured role, whether it be academic, as in ?The Muse,? or the power of portraiture, as in ?The Portrait?, or knowledge of art, as in ?The Namesake?. It also shows, however, her 1905 short story, ?Paul?s Case: A Study in Temperament?, does exactly the opposite and looks at how, rather than sympathize with the young man, Cather portrays him as a self-fixated, indulgent individual more interested in the luxurious and false trappings of art than the true hard work of creating real art.

From the Paper
"The subtitle of "Paul's Case" is "a study in temperament" because this enables Cather as an author to diagnose the young man's aspirations like a doctor rather than idealizing his yearnings for beauty. In fact, Cather once contemplated becoming a doctor herself, before turning to writing after being educated in the decidedly non-Eastern, non-urban local of The University of Nebraska. (Ahern, 2003) The idea of Paul as a medical "case" also suggests that he is a psychological case study of something gone wrong, a warning rather than an object of pity, much less identification in the mind of the reader."

Tags:paul, portrait, namesake, temprement, muse

Abstract
This paper explains that the protagonist in Willa Cather's 'O Pioneers!' is a woman, Swedish by birth, who worked her land up to rich production and brought prosperity to her whole family; for the time the novel was written, this was somewhat out of the ordinary. The author is impressed by the way Cather set the mood in her story by beginning with a Great Plains winter scene as the backdrop to the struggle of the Borgson family, which was going to lose their father no matter what anyone did. The paper stresses that, in the time and place O Pioneers! was written, a father was the one with the power, not the mother, and the attitudes expressed by the brothers also provide a clear denunciation of patriarchy.

From the Paper
"Perhaps in our time it is difficult to imagine that people would actually just do what they were told by a dying father but that was the world of late Victorian America and I believe that in setting the story as she did, the case can be made that Cather did criticize patriarchy. She made it very plain. If the father had not commanded, the brothers would have been in charge and Alexandra's fine capabilities would have been relegated to the kitchen. As the story progresses it isn't hard to see what would have happened to the family farm if the brothers had been running things. They are not only easily discouraged, but time and again it is shown that they just plain don't have Alexandra's ability to look at a situation and see a creative, positive way to deal with it. She not only keeps the original homestead, but as others in the areas do give up under drought and other challenges, she mortgages the home farm to buy these places as well."

Tags:lesbian, critics, struggle, cold, patriarchy

Abstract
The paper introduces Willa Cather, who lived in Nebraska in the late 1800s, as having a writing style that was a fresh, new approach to the American experience. The paper reviews her book, "O Pioneers", which is a personification of the Bergson family's life on the frontier. The author concludes that Cather used intense detail to project the main theme, man pitted against nature.

From the Paper
"Alexandra emerged rather quickly as the protagonist of the novel, and evolved into a female heroine. One of the most dominant characters however, wasn't human at all. The land itself was the greatest enemy that Alexandra faced at times. Their relationship was symbolic of the overall theme of the "grand struggle"that existed between humanity and forces out of human control. Alexandra tried to control the land, and tried to exert her wishes upon the land, but the land was bending her at the same time."

Tags:frontier, nebraska, 1800?s, land, character, struggle, imagery, personification, realistic

Abstract
This paper looks at a range of Cather's short stories and novels that show that there are certain common characteristics in her works. These include common themes, common settings, common characters, and a common writing style. The paper looks at each of these features, utilizing various examples of Cather's work, including: "A Lost Lady"; "Lucy Gayheart"; "My Antonia"; "O! Pioneers"; "The Song of the Lark"; and "The Troll Garden".

From the Paper
"One of Cather's common themes is based on the struggle of women, with Cather often presented undervalued, but heroic female characters. This is seen in the novel A Lost Lady, which details the life of Marian Forrester. Marian is married to an older man and they live in a small Midwestern town. Initially, it is seen that Marian is not well-respected by her husband and really only seen as a trophy wife. Marian proves her worth as a wife when her husband becomes ill, where she continues to take care of him. At the same time, Marian is not presented as a perfect woman, as she does begin having an affair because her husband is not capable of meeting her needs."

Tags:scene, writing, literature, style, lost, lady, lucy, gayheart, antonia, pioneer, lark

Abstract
This analytical essay explores how Paul, the main character in Cather's "Paul's Case" is alienated, ostracized, and made to live the life of an outsider. The author examines Paul's ability to confront dominant culture on numerous social fronts and scrutinizes society's role within the context of the story.

From the Paper
"That artistic spirit is ignored because Paul's community is dominated by those who value hard, self-sustaining work, above all else. Paul's father is always holding up examples that Paul might one day follow. These are the men who find a steady job, settle down, and start a family. In this drive for success and family, there is no room for the artistic or abstract. In the minds of these men, they merely present obstacles impeding even greater success. This success-driven culture dominates Paul's existence, impressing itself upon much of what he sees. Paul is living what he considers to be a repulsive and mundane life on Cordelia Street. That culture not only dominates Paul, but also his culture.
"In contrast to Cordelia Street, Paul's own culture is one of the artistic, the beautiful, the pleasant and the abstract. Depending upon the interpretation of the reader, Paul might also be considered a homosexual, contributing even more to his cultural identity. Paul is said to have "[fallen] in with a wild San Francisco boy" (109). Although never directly stated, sexual orientation is strongly implied. It is no wonder that Paul's culture was dominated."

Tags:homosexuality, gender implications, sexual orientation, cordelia street

Abstract
This paper examines the book, "Paul's Case", by Willa Cather. According to the paper, the environment in the story strongly influences the behavior of Paul, the main character, and his lack of interest in his surroundings. The paper further discusses Paul's need to escape from reality.

From the Paper
"Paul was living on Cordelia Street and the feelings he describes upon returning home make it clear that he didn't like his home. Cordelia Street always held "the hopeless feeling of sinking back forever into ugliness and commonness that he had always had when he came home" (71). But why didn't he like his home? It wasn't the money or poverty but lack of essential love in his life that caused him to become a recluse and make him feel "repulsion for the flavorless, colorless mass of everyday existence" (71). The only way he could make up for the lack of love in life was to do something that was totally new and totally exciting. That is why he loves life in New York which represents a new environment and thus a new life for him. It is there that "He grew more and more vivacious and animated and the color came back to his cheeks and lips" (70). We notice that New York was beautiful not because it was a nice place but because it was new. Everything that he wanted to experience, he could experience now. The love of art that he had inherited from his mother turned alive once again and he was a totally new person in these new surroundings. "

Tags:narcissistic, behavior, personality, disorder, illusion

Abstract
The paper discusses the centrality of the Nebraska prairie to the novel and how the setting is the background that informs the rest of the action in the story. The paper explores the symbolic nature of Antonia as the embodiment of the prairie to the narrator of the book, Jim Burden. The paper also analyzes the agricultural ties to the land felt by the prairie dwellers.

From the Paper
"Willa Cather's My Antonia is primarily a novel about place. The setting of the novel in the Nebraska prairie is the same setting in which Cather grew up and was very important to her as well. Cather uses the character of Antonia as a symbol for the prairie and its importance to Jim Burden. Cather equates the vital and dynamic Antonia with the prairie's fertility, and in this comparison, she suggests that Jim Burden's life is comparatively stagnant and infertile. In this novel, Cather paints a stunning and lyrical portrait of the American plains region, treats us to a cast of memorable characters, and offers intriguing insights into the manner in which we construct our own past, even as she reminds us that our own experiences are ultimately inexplicable to anyone else."

Tags:vigor, memory, soil, harvest, landscape

Abstract
The paper analyzes the nature of the main character in the book, a young Bohemian girl named Antonia who migrates from the United States to settle down in Nebraska, and focuses on her strong personality and honest character. The paper claims that Antonia is a symbol for the fulfillment of the American Dream, in her desire to accomplish success in terms of wealth.

From the Paper
"This marvelous account addressing various issues has been narrated by one of the characters named Jim Burden who is portrayed as the childhood playmate of the protagonist of the novel named Antonia. According to Jim Burden, Antonia was the eldest daughter of the Shimerda's and a healthy as well as a happy girl with the most beautiful eyes that were "big and warm and full of light, like the sun shining on brown pools in the wood" (Book 1, Chapter 3, pg. 17). The Shimerda's were the Burden's neighbors, as a result, Jim and Antonia came to know each other and eventually became childhood friends and they remained friends for the rest of their lives. According to Jim, Antonia radiated happiness and portrayed a healthy and a flourishing picture of the plains and the people of Nebraska even though the plains were like a piece of barren land. She always brought out and admired the hidden qualities of others around. She was a cheerful, sympathetic and a loving person who was not only concerned and cared for the inconsiderate members of her family but also showed sorrow for the dying insects."

Tags:diligence, courage, optimism, charm

Abstract
This paper compares Joyce Carol Oates' short story, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" with Willa Cathers' story, "Paul's Case," focusing on both protagonists' consistent, strong desire to escape a world familiar to them; in fact, a lack of loving, parental moral direction pushes both characters to pursue their own frightening and dangerous disillusions. The paper asserts that for both Connie and Paul, where they've gone is related to where they've been; however, neither is clearly not in complete control over where they've been. Ultimately, the paper concludes, Connie discovers her dream-love is under the guise of lust, evil and death, while Paul realizes that despite his vivid imagination and the music of Carnegie Hall, his illusions have betrayed him, leaving his life valueless, without the promise of being able to live the "good life" in New York.

From the Paper
" In Cathers' story, "Paul's Case," Paul, similar to Connie, is lacking moral guidance; however, there is additional evidence that suggests Paul's father may be abusive as well. Even though Paul's father may not have physically abused him, he does intimidate Paul to such an extent that it would not be hard to speculate that he does mistreat him, at least verbally and emotionally. The primary reason for suspecting such abuse is because of the "shudder of loathing" that Paul experiences when returning home from the theater late. Additionally, the only image Paul sees upon returning is that of his father "at the top of the stairs, his hairy legs sticking out from his night-shirt, with his feet thrust into carpet slippers," ready to interrogate him as to where he has been. The fact that Paul has this image imprinted in his mind leads one to believe such a dreadful encounter happens often between Paul and his father."

Tags:dream, Carnegie, Hall