Willa Cather was born on December 7, 1875 in Back Creek Valley, Virginia. After graduating from high school in 1890 she moved to the state capital in Lincoln so she could study for her entrance to the University of Nebraska. There she spent most of her time editing the school magazine and writing short play reviews. In the next few years she wrote many short stories. In 1913 Willa wrote her first novel, O Pioneers. In years to come she wrote novels like The Professor's House, in 1925 My Mortal Enemy, in 1926, and Death Comes for the Archbishop, in 1927. Perhaps the most personal novel she wrote was My Antonia, in 1917. One reason this is so personal to her is because she used a childhood friend, Annie Sadilek, as the protagonist in the novel. In Willa Cather's novel, My Antonia, there are several character traits, life choices, and values that contribute to the protagonist Antonia Shimerda's happy life.
             Antonia Shimerda's character traits are one thing that helps lead her to a happy life. One such trait is that Antonia is a strong individual. She is physically strong from working in the fields as a young girl. She discovers masculine independence and strength by plowing the ground and completing other oppressive work around the farm. Bending over, using her hands, and using her muscles with all of her might to complete the work around the farm gives Antonia the feeling that she is doing a mans work.[4] One day Jim Burden tells Antonia that his grand-mother wants to know if she'll be attending school in the Sod Schoolhouse. Antonia tells Jim Burden, "I ain't got time to learn. I can work like mans now. My mother can't say no more how Ambrosch do all and nobody to help him. I can work as much as him. School is all right for little boys. I help make this land a good farm" (Cather 89). Antonia Shimerda also shows she is mentally strong by the decisions she makes. Because of her !
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