Marie In Cather's White Night-Moth

Upon first appearance Marie appears to be a dark, twisted temptress, but upon closer analysis Cather reveals to us she is truly a wild spirit. Cather presents Marie to us as a “white night-moth” who is “flutteringly” away into the night. Cather’s imagery presents Marie as a free spirit, because moths travel freely with no clear direction or motive. This paints Marie as an individual who moves without direction or intention, which displays the transcendental principle of living life on a whim. Marie is described as a “white” moth which represents purity and how she seems to be divergent from others around her. Cather’s word choice to describe Marie as “flutteringly” creates a light and playful mood, which seems to be at the center of her character.

Cather goes on to say, “always the same patient fields, the patient little trees, the patient lives; always the same yearning, the same pulling at the chain…” Cather’s description of the fields, trees, and lives as “patient” relates to the life Marie has lived. Despite the strong love she holds for Emil, she must conceal it, creating a patient love that can never fully express itself. This patient love isn’t a steady and consistent love, but one that burns brightly for a moment and disappears. Cather’s perpetual use of commas and the word patient is used to emphasize the message she is conveying in these lines. Marie’s relationship with Frank is represented through the quote, “the same pulling at the chain until the instinct to live had torn itself and bled and weakened for the last time,” This portrays Marie’s desire to be free from the “chains” of marriage with Frank. Despite her love for Emil, her strong commitment to Catholicism will keep her bound to Frank until death. In her mind, her love for Emil will be held captive until the day she dies. This bondage goes against the very principles that Marie represents, which is why it creates such a problematic