My Antonia Notes 3/7

My Antonia Notes 3/7

Willa Cather

• ·      Born in Virginia
• ·      Grew up in Nebraska
• ·      Went to University of Nebraska
• ·      Sometimes she used a masculine nickname “William” and wore men’s clothing when she was at the University of Nebraska
• ·      Some people interpret Cather as a lesbian and interpret her work through a lens of “queer theory”
• ·      Published My Antonia in 1918 

Jim Burden:

• ·      What does it matter that Jim is an orphan?
• ·      Does it contribute to the concept of sacrifice and loss?
• ·      Looks back with extreme emotional nostalgia
• ·      Though he is married, he still cherishes his time with Antonia with emotional significance.
• ·      The book has a lot of self-evaluation because it is written as a personal memoir—What does that add to the novel? Have we lost the subtlety and innocence of children?

Gender:

• ·      Introduction it is not specified whether it is a man or a woman.
• ·      Woman writing through Jim’s perspective
• ·      Jim hangs out with Antonia and Yulka more than any of the Shimerda boys
• ·      “I never know you was so brave, Jim,” she went on comfortingly. “You is just like big mans; you wait for him lift his head and then you go for him. Ain’t you feel scared a bit? Now we take that snake home and show everybody. Nobody ain’t seen in this kawn-tree so big snake like you kill.”
• o   He was angry because she didn’t warn him, but he quickly gives that up when she says this.
• o   Antonia is struggling with English—we can watch how her English develops through the book
• o   She regards him as an equal