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."
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."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and compares the hardships faced by pioneer women as they traveled across the American continent in the 19th century. Specifically, it looks at the long and grueling journey, depression, financial ruin, disease and death on the trail.
From the Paper "Most of the women who traveled west were part of a family ? they had to follow their husbands or lose them. Some of them traveled with great anticipation of what was to come, and some of them dreaded leaving the comforts of the East to head toward what they knew could only be hardship and loss on the trip west. One such woman was Lucetta Rogers, who travel to California in 1853 to meet her husband. He had left her in Connecticut, and she traveled by ship to reach him faster after she learned he was sick with typhoid fever."
Abstract This paper reviews Caroline's Kirkland's "A New Home"Who"ll Follow?" and James Fenimore Cooper's "The Pioneers". Both are novels from the nineteenth century that examine the life of the American frontier. This paper shows how the authors achieve their goals by examining the similarities and the differences between the two novels. The predominant theme each author uses is realism, focusing on elements that would create within us a sense of understanding about that era in time.
From the Paper "In addition, similar descriptions of circumstances reveal to us the type of life one might expect in Cooper's The Pioneers. Issues of concern and disputes relevant to that time are discussed in a way that help us understand how the settlers communicated with the natives. For instance, the deer that has been shot becomes a point of attention when an argument arises because no one can say to whom the deer belongs. Cooper demonstrates the ability of two different people being able to communicate with each other."
Abstract The paper is a discussion and analysis of the two novels "Quiet Odyssey: A Pioneer Korean Woman in America" by Mary Paik Lee and "Coming of Age in Mississippi," by Anne Moody. Specifically, the paper compares and contrasts the hardships that Mary and Anne had to overcome. The paper looks at how their struggles were similar and different. These two women at first seem quite divergent from each other in experience and culture, but after reading these two books, it is clear these women have much in common, from their experience of prejudice and hate, to their ability to create meaningful lives for themselves while sharing their experiences with others.
From the Paper "At first glance, Asian Mary Paik Lee and Black Anne Moody could not be more different. One was an Asian immigrant who came to the country in 1905; and the other was a poor black living in the South at the height of the Civil Rights movement. Certainly, these two very different women, from far dissimilar backgrounds and generations, could have nothing in common. Yet, as the reader delves into their stories, they discover these two women have far more in common that first envisioned."
Tags: asian, women, asia, chinese, civil, rights, racism, integration, korea
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts Willa Cather's novel, O Pioneers And Chenua Achebe's novel, Things Fall Apart. The author examines respective themes, characterizations, settings, and aspects of society, culture, and gender.
Abstract This paper discusses the novel "O' Pioneers!" by Willa Cather, and focuses upon an examination of the relationship of the characters to the land, and their relationships with one another.
Abstract This paper examines how "The Octopus" and the "O Pioneer" serve as eye-openers for our social and economic status. It looks at how Cather's and Norris' works do not serve as merely entertainment; both serve as instigators of public-awareness, and concern for the environment. It discusses how both works show how powerful the influence of environment could be and how lessons are learned not only through people, or experiences, but by the little, ordinary factors that would greatly affect our very lives.
From the Paper "The protagonist of the story prospered because she heeded her father's wishes and respected the land. However, this accomplishment did not bring her any satisfaction. In the second part of the fourth chapter, Alexandra Bergson expressed her discontent with the seemingly hard toil. She argued that all her hard work would only amount to nothing if she could not give Emil the freedom to live the life he chose to live. It is only a great irony that Emil, granted with the freedom to live any kind of life he chose, was in his own way, unhappy. He yearns to be more than what he currently is. His desire lies beyond the frontiers of what he already has."
Abstract This paper examines the theme of human relationships in the novel "O Pioneers!" by Willa Cather. The paper contends that human relationships are at the heart of the novel, but at the same time, those relationships are shaped and colored by the vital relationship with the land, as an inheritance and a way of life. The paper also maintains that family is a central theme connected to the land, with the character of Alexandra the focus for the family, just as the land becomes her focus as a substitute for her father. The paper argues that, although much of the novel seems pessimistic about human relationships, ultimately the novel's protagonist, Alexandra, as an embodiment of the land, shows how the struggle for the land would one day lead to an accommodation between human beings and the land.
From the Paper "Cather seems to doubt the possibility for human beings to form meaningful and lasting relationships, and in the novel, those who try fail or even die before achieving what they seem to want. There are a number of unhappy marriages in the novel, including that of the woman Emil loves, a relationship that ends tragically for all. The one love that persists is love for the land, though that is also a love that is sorely tested again and again by weather, drought, storms, and other hardships faced by the pioneers, who either last through the crisis of fail and turn back. The novel celebrates the pioneer in America and the way the pioneer went to work and shaped the land, but what the pioneer did was also decided by the needs and wants of the land itself. In the end, the hard realities of pioneer life were anything but romantic, and the lives of the characters in this novel shows how they would often act impetuously and then suffer the consequences as far as human relationships were concerned."
Tags: immigrant, frontier, America, farmer, family
Abstract This paper explains that the Soviet Union Pioneer summer camp called ARTEK was founded in 1925 along the Black Sea, a beautiful setting in the Crimea near Yalta, which is now in the Ukraine. Foreign children also were welcomed to the camp in hope that they would get a favorable view of the Soviet Union. The paper describes its unique physical structures, the way the camp was run and its importance to the Soviet culture. The paper also discuses the history of child welfare under the communists.
From the Paper "No matter how well connected a child was within the framework of the Communist Soviet hierarchy at that time, the Times' writer explains, and even if you were the best student in your class or the child of a "Hero of Soviet Labor," you were only allowed to spend one summer of your life at ARTEK.
"It was a high honor to qualify to go to ARTEK, although it wasn't all singing songs, sailing, swimming and having arts and crafts sessions, Specter continues. The students were marched through potato fields in gas masks, and made to perform military-themed exercises."
Abstract This paper reviews the life and works of three scientists in the field of scientific management. It evaluates how the three leaders have benefited numerous companies throughout the world and how each pioneer in one way or another has been able to increase productivity by lowering unnecessary unit work loads. It looks at the life of Dr. Lillian Gilbreth, the wife of Frank Gilbreth who was a pioneer in the industrial engineering field. It examines her education and her work in the shadow of her famous husband and against sexual discrimination. Fredrick Taylor is noted for his famed motion studies and his overall work principles have been transported all over the globe. The third scientist is Charles Bedaux who established his first management consultancy firm in Cleveland in 1916 and his work in measuring human energy has provided the basis for many work programs.
From the Paper "Frank Gilbreth was most known for his passion for studying efficiency. Gilbreth logically examined how repetitive tasks were performed, such as the movements and motions of sports players, physicians, disabled individuals, and factory workers. He then described methods that a person could do that would enable them to perform the task the ?one best way.? His theories were designed to save people time through a more efficient use of the body's movements. Much is known about Frank Gilbreth, but his wife Lillian Gilbreth, was also a pioneer in the industrial engineering field as well. Lillian seemed to be in her husbands? shadow, but she herself was also a pioneer of scientific management. "
Abstract This paper looks into the period of when X-rays and radium were discovered and how they were hailed as miracles. Widely using radioactive substances for presumed "curative" effects and to produce a range of products, pioneers into these fields eventually reaped the deadly effects of radiation. It discusses how many researchers, patients, and consumers died of radiation poisoning during these early decades.
From the Paper "Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen was a relatively unknown professor and research at the University of Wurzburg until one fateful day in 1895. It was on November 8th of that year, while working with a variant of Crookes's shrouded cathode ray tubes, he ?saw the shadows of the bones of his hand when held between the tube and a fluorescent screen.? (Hausfeld, 1993, 1) Within months he had published his research and a radiograph of his wife's hand. He suggested usage in medical diagnoses, but the world of science would take his discovery much, much further. Within 30 years, hundreds if not thousands of people would be dead from radiation research, ?treatments,? and commercial use. These early pioneers and victims of X-ray technology would discover first hand precisely what it did to living cell structures."
Abstract This paper looks at how Alexandra Bergson, the main character of Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!", is portrayed as a pastoral heroine. She essentially takes on nontraditional gender roles as she performs and acts like a strong and independent woman. During the time period of the novel, this was unheard of and would be considered behavior appropriate for a man. The paper supports its thesis by using quotes from Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!" and two other sources.
From the Paper "Carl's decision to come back to Nebraska illustrates his rejection of the scripted male practice of traveling around the country in order to make more money. He ultimately realizes that he belongs with Alexandra, as he settles down to start a new life with her. Arguably, this creates a certain type of role reversal, as the younger, sensitive and uncertain Carl comes back to Alexandra's confident and stable arms. The conventional ending to this story would have entailed Alexandra relying on Carl as the 'man of the house,' but this is not the case. Carl's genuine feelings can be summed up as Alexandra does not belong to him but that she belongs ?to the land [?] now more than ever.? (Cather 307) Cather ends the novel putting both Alexandra and Carl on the same level ..."
Abstract This paper explains that the pioneering firm enters a relatively unpopulated market where there is a lot of unexploited market potential; the company's market share and market power are high, but its initial sales volume is quite low. The author points out that, in the maturity phase, the challenge is to maintain core competency, while expanding the market with new product development and ancillary products.The paper states that, although it is most important in the pioneering phase, buy-in is critical in asking investors and employees to understand because buy-in is necessary to institute strong management in the life cycles themselves.
From the Paper "The focus in all of these stages is balance. Management must know in which stage the organization is at the moment, and must capitalize on that knowledge. At all times, management must be open with employees and investors with regard to the present stage and the plans to act upon that knowledge. Withholding financials and long-term goals from middle managers and investors does not create an environment in which the organization can successfully work towards increasing profits in the pioneering phase, lengthening the growth phase, managing liberally during the maturity phase to create new markets and hopefully avoiding the decline phase."
Abstract This paper studies the book "On the Road". It describes the main characters and their personalities. It summarizes the tale and its plot of friendship and travel. The author finds that 'On the Road' is a testament to the wandering pioneer spirit of America by detailing travels across America. He feels that it presents the "beat generation" as a "holy" generation, one free from the hazards of aspiration, greediness and beliefs that was in a constant search for some greater truth.
From the Paper "On the road is one of the best Beat novels written by Jack Kerouac. It is a captivating, moral and touching tale that has given a detailed account of a friendship and the four trips across America. The writer has used his full creativity and talents in producing this piece of work. The presentation is so effective that the readers starts to have a feeling that if he/she is in that place. The narrator of this tale is a character named as Sal Paradise who is a young college boy living with his aunt in Paterson, New Jersey. The real story starts from the point when a college friend of Sal invites him to spend some time with him in San Francisco besides he also wanted to see his most beloved friend Dean Moriarty in Denver. Dean Moriarty is the second most prominent character of the story that is presented as a talkative, womanizer type of a guy, who was living in New York in a hope to become a writer. He is very much idealized by Sal as he is too joyous and is very confident and smart while being with women. "
