My Antonia

My Antonia

The novel, ‘My Antonia’, by Willa Sibert Cather, was written during the days of heightened slavery in the United States. It was on that account that through the narrator, Cather wrote of the many misgivings that ensued during life in Nebraska. Due to the prevailing circumstances at that time, there are many themes and writing techniques that the author used so as to paint to readers the real picture of how things would later change. This paper will discuss how the theme of change and transition in chapter three is captured in the book. Additionally, the theme of determination and struggle, as captured in chapter four, will also be discussed.  

In chapter three, Jim Burden narrates on how the change of location to Lincoln saw him start looking at things differently, like the way he looked at Lena Lingard - a lady she had known much earlier. Throughout his conversation, the narrator reminds the readers of the good and the bad past lifestyle that he went through. This chapter stands out because it reveals to the reader the picture of the past in the life of Jim. This is shown in the chapter when Jim talks of how he always looked back on a certain time of mental awakening as one of his happiest moments (Cather, 1918). 

In chapter four, the theme of determination and struggle comes out, as depicted by Tiny Sodernball. Despite having met many hardships, Tiny comes out in the story as a great business person to the point of having a chain of businesses, and worldly wealth (Cather, 1918). The determination, as exemplified by Tiny, makes this chapter stands out, encouraging and even worth reading. Dialogue between Jim Burden and Lingard brings out the narrator as someone who is being haunted by his past. He comes out as one who is thinking about many things, and circumstances, which defined his past life. Finally, the setting of the story makes a reader connects with the past easily. For instance, when Lena Lingard talks of constructing a better house for her mother, she makes people imagine of conditions that her mother lived in before.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   References 

Cather, W. (1994). My Antonia. 1918. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P.

Storey, A I. (2008). “From an old Country to a New.” Opposing Worlds and Narrative Traditions in Willa Cather’s My Antonia (Doctoral dissertation, University of Saskatchewan).