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Willa Cather Romanticism

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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. For instance, in Part 4, Chapter 7-8 after Frank kills Marie and Emil, Cather says, “two white butterflies from Frank's alfalfa-field were fluttering in and out among the interlacing shadows; diving and soaring, now close together, now far apart; and in the long grass by the fence the last wild roses of the year opened their pink hearts to die.” Another quote from that scene includes, “She had lifted her head to her lover's …show more content…

For example, in Part 5, Chapter 2-3 Carl and Alexandra have a talk about Marie and Emil. Carl says he saw Emil and Marie from the beginning, with the quote “they were the best you had here.” The naturalists would say that they didn’t care about Marie and Emil. Another example would include the fact that Alexandra says, “All at once, in a single day, I lose everything: and I do not know why.”, in Part 2 Chapters 11-12. This shows naturalism because the quote is true and she has lost a lot within lots of time. Willa Cather also uses the quote “There is something frank and joyous and young in the open face of the country. It gives itself ungrudgingly to the moods of the season, holding nothing back. Like the plains of Lombardy, it seems to rise a little to meet the sun. The air and the earth are curiously mated and intermingled, as if the one were the breath of the other. You feel in the atmosphere the same tonic, puissant quality that is in the tilth, the same strength and resoluteness.” John Bergson had given Alexandra the land to take care of because he easily trusted her over her brothers. Alexandra did do a great job of keeping up with the land, in fact for more than 16

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One of the most well-known works of literature without a doubt is Willa Cather’s “Paul’s Case.” The story is famous because of the richness of writing that Cather employs in making a formidable story one that can help people understand the current times and the world in which we live in especially regarding naturalism and regionalism. This is an interesting story with twists and turns about a young Calvinist man, whom because of circumstances of life felt he does not belong to this life. Paul’s life is filled by people who push him to the limits and make him feel unwanted, among these are; his abusive father, the uncaring teachers and also his classmates that have greatly misunderstood him (Cather and Schlenk 19). It would be justified to say that this is a classic case study on temperaments.

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Romantics are usually referred to as ” dreamy half-cocked greenhorn[s]” (72). This is solely because they tend to have their own special views of the world and how it will benefit them. One example is Christopher McCandless, the main character and protagonist, in Jon Krakauer’s novel Into The Wild. Chris decides that his normal life in Atlanta isn’t one he wants to live. So, he moves to Alaska and “now walk[s] into the wild” (69) to fulfill his purpose in life.

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Based on her story, Cather’s views clearly revolve around naturalism. Not even through part I, Cather has already introduced readers into a naturalistic story. An example, from the end of part I,

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Part one, chapter one Cather describes the houses as “The dwelling-houses were set about haphazard on the tough prairie sod; some of them looked as if they had been moved in overnight, and others as if they were straying off by themselves, headed straight for the open plain. None of them had any appearance of permanence, and the howling wind blew under them as well as over them.” Additionally in part two chapter one, Cather describes Alexandra’s land by stating “When you go out of the house into the flower garden, there you feel again the order and fine arrangement manifest all over the great farm; in the fencing and hedging, in the windbreaks and sheds, in the symmetrical pasture ponds, planted with scrub willows to shade to the cattle in fly-time. There is even a white row of beehives in the orchard, under the walnut trees.” The realistic thinking in “O Pioneers” may not be very evident, but it is still represented throughout the

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In addition, the verse “O I mourn and yet exult, I am rapt with love for all,” describes Alexandra in that she faced so many difficult times and loss, but instead of becoming hard and bitter she found love in her heart for Carl and the land and even came to try to help Frank after he killed Emil. In addition, just because Naturalism appeared more often in the book, doesn’t mean that it Cather believed in it the most. Naturalism was common in writing at the time she wrote “O Pioneers!” and many of the biggest moments contained Romanticism. While I can see why people believe she leaned toward Naturalism, one has to look deeper than just what occurs the most

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Crane’s short story “The Blue Hotel” is an example of naturalism because of the way he intertwines nature with his characters. For example Crane gives the wind human characteristics by descriptions like “huge arms” that were making attempts to “embrace the flakes as they sped.” He was able to stimulate emotions and human-like qualities for the raging snow storm outside. As I was reading my attention was brought to these traits while I was imagining the “long mellow cry of the blizzard” and the snow wailing as it “flung to its grave in the south”. Here he transforms the storm outside is into a chilling graveyard.

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When Cather had to move to Nebraska, she hated it for the first year or so. This shows Naturalism because she sulked over the fact that she had to move. Likewise, in the story, Alexandra had gone through some tough times. Cather wrote, “She began to wonder whether she would not do better to finish her life alone. What was left of life seemed unimportant.”

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