Paul's Case By Willa Cather

651 Words3 Pages
In Willa Cather’s, Paul’s Case, Paul is a high school student whose destructive impulses get him suspended. Paul is awkward and doesn't really fit in with the world around him. Art becomes a fantasy land for him as he uses it to escape mediocre reality in which he lives. While he has no desire to join the art world, he likes to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere. Paul ultimately commits suicide not because of one event or character trait. Rather, all his reasons for unhappiness, loneliness, and alienation converge and lead him to his decision to leap in front of a train. In the beginning of the story Paul seems like a typical teenage boy: causing problems in the classroom. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear Paul is rather withdrawn.