Question in the novel ‘My Antonia’ by Willa Cather 

 

 Question 4

Setting is an important element that helps contribute to an individual’s chance of achieving the American dream. In the novel ‘My Antonia’ the character Jim Burden is brought out as character that was hardworking and determined to achieve his goals irrespective of his situation in life. The town setting, that is Nebraska the farm life and the town life shows two different sides to Jim. The Farm shows his childhood; where all he cares about is the beauty of nature, back here he plays and associates with girls without any care. On the other hand town life defines his maturity into adult life, where he now becomes a man and understands the need to fight hand in life to become a respectable lawyer and also learns the concept of teasing girls (Cather, 1924).

Aspects of equality and opportunity can effectively help in understanding the concept of the American dream in the novel ‘My Antonia’. This is a novel whose major themes are mainly based on the lives of immigrants and the opportunities that the society offered them to succeed in life. There may have been freedom that allowed immigrants to move from one place to another, but this did not guarantee equal opportunities for them the same as the natives. This is greatly demonstrated by the lives of Antonia and Jim. Jim’s life was in some way easier and this is gave him the chance to attend school and move to the best schools to achieve his dream of becoming a lawyer (Cather, 1924). On the other hand Antonia had to take up other responsibilities mostly because she was scared that the society wouldn’t accept her as an immigrant

The first week readings brought out the concept of the role that the society plays in influencing the achievement of the American dream. In My Antonia, the society greatly affects and influences the American dream in relation to matters of race. The society has no equal places for immigrants, they have to struggle to survive and be accepted in the society which hinders their chances of living fulfilling life. People like the Burdens have better chances of living fulfilling lives with good careers because they are natives of the land and this is demonstrated by Jim’s life. On the other hand the Shimerdas do not have the chance to fulfil their desired dreams because they struggle to be accepted in the society as immigrants as demonstrated by the life of Antonia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               

References

Cather, W. (1924). My Ántonía. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.