Cathers Feminist tendencies
Willa Cather tends to portray static characters with little depth, yet she seems toapproach her female characters with an air of liberalism that allows for a morewell-rounded exploration of society than is found in the works of other conteporaryauthors. Cather depicts women as both the classic "mother woman" and the independentindividual. Allowing her to free the female character from heir reliance on men. Herwomen are not just mothers, daughters, or wives; they are characters of their own -- ableto grow and explore. A flare is given to Cather's pioneer stories by the dynamics of someof her female characters. The independent women in Cather's tales expand the windowthrough which their society is judged, while the "mother-woman" frame of that window issolidified through the traditional values that they represent. In My Antonia Catherexplores the diversity of the female race through two generations of women. Catherfurther elaborates on the duality of the woman's role of society in Sapphira and the Slave Mrs. Burden, the first woman introduced in My Antonia, represents the traditionalvalues of society. Her description is that of a bird: "she w
Harling paid no heed toanyone else. She allows her characters to free themselves from the social restraint ofsociety and live the lives of their dreams. Even though Cather explores the independence of women in her writing she alsoexposes their vulnerabilities. Although Cather explores modernideals for women, she does not abandoned the traditional values of husband and family. She explores the traditionally conforming woman in a new light. Harlingfound the median between service and self satisfaction. She is pure of heartand soul as she accepts the actions and choices of those to whom she hopes to set anexample. must have its picture on exhibition at the townphotographer's, in a great gilt frame. Antonia is one of Cather's few dynamic characters. Harlingis able to raise four children care for her house hold and please herself. Cather utilizes the adolescent tendencytowards rebellion of the status-quo to explore the dynamics of the female character. Cather portrays women young and old, rich and poor, and develops them into wellrounded citizens.
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