Antonia is hesitant when it comes to discussing her mother. From the text it states, “She’s a, uh…”- I swallowed- “image consultant. ” I didn’t add, when she can get out of bed.” (pg.77) Antonia’s household is heavily impacted by her mother’s depression, which frequently resulted in Antonia having to take on a motherly role to her two younger brothers, Michael and Chuckie, and forces her to cook and clean the house.
Was Willa Cather’s widely recognized novel, My Antonia, titled after the wrong character? Jim concludes his memoir stating that Antonia “still had that something which fires the imagination.... All the strong things of her heart came out in her body.... She was a rich mine of life, like the founders of early races” which seemingly proves that Antonia is Jim’s soul inspiration, the heroine of the novel (Cather 211). However, if this is the case, why would Jim ostensibly forget her for a whole chapter to fixate on a different character?
What does one’s response to conflict say about them? What is the best response? Studies show that positivity is one of the most effective way to react to conflict. Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl whose diary became “Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl,” always tried to have a positive attitude and make the best of everything in her terrible situation. In “Dear Miss Breed” by Joanne Oppenheim, sixteen-year-old Louise Ogawa wrote in her letters to Miss Breed about how even though the living conditions were ruthless, she was determined to see the light.
Despite the title of the book, “My Antonia” is very much centered on Jim Burden. The story begins with an outlook on Jim’s adult life, and we are then catapulted into his Nebraskan childhood. As the book progresses, we witness the mental and emotional development of Jim as he has new experiences and meets numerous people. The book then concludes with Jim again as an adult. As a reader, I have observed him complete a cycle (going from point a, to point b and arriving at point a again).
In the book “O Pioneers!” Willa Cather discusses her views on the three philosophies of life. She makes it clear as to which one she personally adheres, from a Realistic, Romantic and Naturalistic view of the world. Cather uses many circumstances of each type of philosophy. Willa uses Romanticism lots of times in her story.
(AGG): “Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your actions”, said the Dalai Lama. (BS-1): In the dystopian city presented in the novel Fahrenheit 451, By Ray Bradbury, citizens are miserable due to their absence of human interaction and relationships, yet they are convinced that they are happy. (BS-2): This is shown through how the majority of people who lack this key to happiness are evidently miserable. (BS-3): Very few people are happy and are leading a fulfilled life due to them still having the key to happiness.
Her family gave her light in this time of darkness allowing her to grow and gain strength within herself.
The suffering and starvation of her first winter on the prairie, ending in her father’s suicide, never diminished Antonia’s love for the country. And now Jim could see the literal fruits of her labor. Her life exhibited “the goodness of planting and tending and harvesting at last” (Cather, 127). Antonia planted seeds of kindness, freedom, and hope everywhere she went. “Tireless in serving generous emotions” (Cather, 127), Antonia freely gave her love, attention, and self to everyone she met.
In today’s society, people achieve happiness through interaction with others, but in Ray Bradbury’s dystopian Novel, Fahrenheit 451, his characters believe that they need technology to enjoy their lives. People’s main priority is to be happy and have a successful life. They don’t want to have to worry about anything and just enjoy themselves. “‘You must understand that our civilization is so vast that we can’t have our minorities upset and stirred. Ask yourself, what do we want in this country, above all?
Challenges of Immigration: The Shimerda’s Struggle Willa Cather’s novel, My Ántonia sheds light on the topic of immigration. Immigrants have many different reasons for why they might migrate to the United States. Some were trying to escape something from their old country such as avoiding a war, trouble with the law, or shame as is the case of the Russians Pavel and Peter. Reasons for immigrating could also relate to chasing the American dream as is the case with the Shimerdas.
Jim defines happiness as"to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one it comes as natural as sleep". I do believe that this is something that Antonia would agree with. Being a young Bohemian girl she was poor and many would say she no not what happiness was. Especially them moving to a new place where they dont speak the language and barely get by each day.
In the short story of “Happy Endings” written by Margaret Atwood, readers can see the story is set up through multiple plots and versions of the same tale. Each story has a different version and different scenarios, but what is the point in that? Is there a lesson to be learned through this? The lessons we learn will teach us that life is unfair, and no matter how unfair it may seem or how perfect or not so perfect our lives seem, each and every person will end up the same, dead.. The beginning of the story opens up to give us John and Mary, who are very much in love, and they grow up and grow old together.
Man, that was heavy. I mean, I don 't have any words to say. I cried to my mom, running down the stairs with tears flowing down my cheeks as my words jumbled. I guess, it was too much. And I 'm not even exaggerating.
The documentary Sister Rose’s Passion, explains how Sr. Rose Thering took a stand against bigotry and prejudice towards the Jewish people. Throughout the documentary, she recounts her experiences of growing up and going to Catholic school. In school Sister Rose was taught that the Jews killed Christ, however, she believed that this was a mistake and a misunderstanding. Today bigotry and prejudice are conveyed through bullying and stereotypes.
“Dan? Daniel?” He huffed in response. “You still awake?”
