How Does Antonia's Love for Jim Differ From His Love for Her?
In My Antonia Written by Willa Cather, a young boy and girl meet at a young age
and form a friendship of both love and trust. The young boy in the story is a kid by the
name of Jim Burden who is a native Virginian. Jim was later sent out to live in Nebraska
by his grandparents after the passing of his mother and father. The girl in the story is a
child by the name of Antonia Shimerda, Antonia is a native Bohemian who moved to
Nebraska in search of a better life for her family. The two met at a young age, and
developed a loving friendship. Jim's love for Antonia was based alone on their
friendship, and not on lust. Antonia's love for Jim was based on a somewhat maternal
love rather than friendship alone. The love of these two characters, carries throughout the
novel and is expressed fully at the time of their departures from each other.
Jim's love for Antonia contained aspects of great comradery and trust. At times in
the novel Jim had displayed a minute attraction of sexuality towards Antonia, but what
two best friends of the opposite sex have not displayed a sign of lust towards each other at
one point? Answer being not many. Jim had always believed Antonia to be a wonderful
If she was so proud of me, I was so proud of her that I carried my head high as I
emerged from the dark cedars and shut the Cutters; fate softly behind me. Her
warm, sweet face, her kind arms and the true heart in her; she was, oh, she was
This display of affection toward Antonia signifies his relationship with her being based
only on how much he missed her as a friend. Jim contained an insurmountable amount of
love towards Antonia and would not trade a thing in the world for her friendship. Jim's
friendship with Antonia helped to carry him through both good and bad times up until the
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