Throughout My Antonia, Willa Cather uses nature as a tool through which she can better connect the audience to the inner meanings of her writings. The setting and background are constantly being emphasized, as Cather believed it to be a vital part of the Midwest lifestyle. Two particular scenes seem to stand out because of their placement in the novel and due to what they represent. One of them is at the beginning of the story when Jim was getting accustomed to Nebraska. The other is placed further along the plot when Jim was preparing to leave for college.
Jim ventures out one day with his grandma to dig up some potatoes in their garden. It is early in the story, and Jim has been in Nebraska for only a short while. He follows his grandma there in reluctance, not having much interest in being there at all. He sensed the desolate area and thought he was at the end of the world for all that was left were the sun, the sky, and the ground. He decided to stay longer than his grandma in the garden. Cather’s word choices and associations at this point become very deep and symbolic. “All about me giant grasshoppers, twice as big as any I had ever seen, were doing acrobatic feats among the dried vines.” This suggests that Jim is feeling
. . .
The earth was warm under me, and warm as I crumbled it through my fingers. Like every year, a transition in the seasons occurs. ” Jim realizes that he is departing this place soon and understands that he will be leaving behind many people and things that he has learned to appreciate. ” This suggests that Jim is feeling alone, yet quite close to the landscape. The scenes are both similar, however, in that Jim is surprised when he encounters both the garden and the stream. He was entirely happy and felt like he belonged to something complete and good. The last line allows you to get in the picture and feel what is going on. He is moving on and starting another chapter of his life. Everything is slowing down, becoming very clear in his mind. This deep embodiment only serves to heighten the reader’s enjoyment of the book. In one he is entering a new life, starting fresh with his grandparents in Nebraska. ”
This quote represents the essence of what Cather is trying to portray here. It is almost like Jim is not there, maybe in a dream, or even as an observer from the outside. Also, it seems that Jim is witnessing things almost in slow motion, attributed to the gracefulness of the grasshopper.
Approximate Word count =
863
Approximate Pages =
3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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